





















































CHARLOTTE DE LA TREMOILLE COUNTESS OE DERBY 


Engraved byCHJeens,- from a Picture m the Co LIectto n/ o f the Earl of Derby 









































THE 



AN LEYS of KNOWSLEY 

\ 0 n r> 


X 


% Mjigtorir of that |l.o talc Jfamrlg 


INCLUDING 


SKETCH OF THE POLITICAL AND PUBLIC LIVES 


OF THE LATE 


}HT HON. THE EARL OF DERBY, K.G. 
AND OF THE PRESENT EARL 


BY WILLIAM POLLARD. 

* ► 


i'oitbon 

FKED ERICK WARNE AND CO. 

BEDFORD STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 

1871. 



y I 4 - 


1 








PREFACE. 

As regards the earlier portions of the following 
pages, the author wishes it to be clearly understood 
that he lays no claim to originality. The records 
of the House of Stanley, even down to the life and 
times of the eleventh Earl of Derby, have been so 
ably penned by successive historians, that the public 
must already be familiar with the many heroic deeds 
of this illustrious family, from the time of its earliest 
origin ; and as the author has availed himself of the 
several authorities at his disposal, the present volume 
is to some extent rather a compilation than otherwise. 

A continuation of the history of the Stanleys of 
Knowsley has been the main object of the author, 
and with this end in view, he has endeavoured to lay 
before his readers the varied interesting events 
connected with this ancient historical family down to 
the present distinguished Lord of Knowsley. 


vm 


PREFACE. 


Every care lias been taken to secure accuracy a& 
regards the historical and general facts recorded in 
the narrative, hut many omissions and defects may 
nevertheless he discovered. Fully sensible of its many 
imperfections, the author submits his work to the 
public, in the confident hope of its indulgent con¬ 
sideration. 



CONTENTS 


1APTER. 

Introduction . 

I. Origin of the Family . 

II. Sir John Stanley, K.G.—Thomas, First Lord Stan¬ 
ley—Thomas, First Earl of Derby—Sir William 
Stanley—Sir Edward Stanley . 

III. Thomas, Second Earl—Edward, Third Earl— 

Henry, Fourth Earl—Ferdinand, Fifth Earl— 
and William, Sixth Earl of Derby 

IV. James, Seventh Earl of Derby .. 

Y. Charles, Eighth Earl—William George Richard, 
Ninth Earl—James, Tenth Earl—and Edward, 
Eleventh Earl of Derby .. 

VI. Edward, Twelfth Earl of Derby . 

VII. Edward, Thirteenth Earl of Derby . 

TIL Edward George Geoffrey, Fourteenth Earl of 
Derby . 

IX. The Right Hon. Lord Stanley, M.P., D.C.L. 

X. Knowsley Mansion and Park... 

XI. Arms of the Family . 

XII. The Earl of Derby’s Retirement . 

Death of Edward, Fourteenth Earl, and Succes¬ 
sion of Lord Stanley as Fifteenth Earl of 
Derby . . .* 


Page 

1 

7 

II 

33 

44 

88 

96 

104 

121 

189 

199 

218 

225 

239 




























































































A HISTORY 


OP THE 


STANLEYS OE KNOWSLEY. 


INTRODUCTION. 

\V hetiier as regards their high lineage and descent, 
or the distinguished part which, for several centuries 
past, they have taken in the events connected with 
the political and general history of the country, it 
may he safely affirmed that the “ Stanleys of Knows- 
ley ” is one of the most illustrious and honoured fami¬ 
lies belonging to the British peerage. On several occa¬ 
sions in their history, the Stanleys have been directly 
connected by marriage with royalty, and the blood of 
the Plantagenets, as well as other noble families for¬ 
merly allied to the crown, flows in their veins. More- 


i 



2 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


over, they for many years held regal sway in the 
Isle of Man, to which we necessarily allude in 
detail, in subsequent parts of our narrative. 

As will be seen from what follows, the House of 
Stanley, even from a period antecedent to the creation 
of Thomas, the first Earl of Derby, in the year 1485, 
had always been signally distinguished for its firm and 
unflinching loyalty and adherence to the crown ; a 
loyalty, which, on several occasions, has manifested 
itself in the field, as in the case of Sir John Stanley, 
(from whom the Earls of Derby descend,) who 
fought near Shrewsbury, on behalf of King Henry 
the Fourth, against the Earl of Northumberland 
and other conspirators, and also at York, in 1405; 
Sir Edward Stanley, who distinguished himself 
in the battle of Elodden Field ; Sir William Stanley, 
who, alike with Lord Stanley himself, fought 
in the famous battle of Boswortli Field, when the 
latter placed the crown (which had been taken from 
the helmet of Bichard) on the head of Henry, Earl of 
Bichmond; these noble illustrations, on the part of 
one family, of devoted allegiance to their king and 
their country, culminating in the truly great and self- 


INTRODUCTION. 


3 


acrificing exploits of James, seventh Earl of Derby, 
vho has not inappropriately been designated “the 
Ireat Stanley,” and whose well known loyal and 
leroic devotion to King Charles, brought his lordship 
o the scaffold. 

In later times, the descendants of the Stanleys of 
vnowsley have equally distinguished themselves by 
heir services to the state and their eloquence in the 
enate ; and in each succeeding generation these quali- 
ications, on the part of the Stanleys, have been 
lisplayed by an increased and still increasing mani- 
estation of that genius and those great intellectual 
lowers, which, from age to age, accompany the 
abours and duties of statesmanship, until in the 
>resent day, when they may be classed in the cate¬ 
gory of contemporary history, we have them brilliantly 
md powerfully exhibited in the persons of both sire 
nd son, which at once command the confidence and 
xlmiration of the nation, from the felicitous and 
gratifying circumstance, that whilst the one is at the 
lead of an executive, whose policy he directs and 
uides with a vigour and ability which has been 
aatured by a close and lengthened experience, 


4 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


the other holds a high and responsible position 
in the service of the crown, in discharging the grave 
and important duties of which—duties, which, at the 
present critical juncture in our foreign relations, are 
more than ordinarily difficult and arduous—he exhibits 
an amount of talent, combined with a sagacity, care, 
and self-sacrificing devotion to the interests of the 
state, which have won for him the universal and 
affectionate esteem of all classes and parties in 
the country, who look forward with a feeling of 
national pride to his elevation, at no long distant day, 
to the highest office in the councils of his sovereign. 

Although, however, the Stanleys of Knowsley, are 
beyond question, the most illustrious and distinguished 
of those who bear the name, they are not the oldest 
branch, but only the second, as will be seen by the 
records in succeeding pages, of the Stanley family, in 
this country. As, however, the object of our present 
work is mainly to chronicle the history of the Knows¬ 
ley branch, and the public events connected there¬ 
with, it is unnecessary here to dwell in detail 
upon the Stanleys of Hooton, in Cheshire, which 
is the oldest branch; or of the Stanleys of 


INTRODUCTION. 


5 


Alder ley, in Cheshire, whose original ancestor was 

\ 

Sir John Stanley, the youngest son of Thomas, first 
Baron Stanley, father of Thomas, first Earl of Derby. 
Onr purpose is to trace the origin, genealogy, and pub¬ 
lic career of the several members of the house of Derby, 
from the earliest period of its rise to the present time. 
The political and historical events and occurrences in 
which this pre-eminently noble and remarkably gifted 
family have prominently figured for several centuries 
past, are of a peculiarly interesting character, and 
they are rendered still more interesting, at this 
moment, owing to the elevated and responsible posi¬ 
tion in which the present head of the illustrious 
house of Stanley has now, for some time, been placed 
in connection with the government of the country. 
Events of the greatest importance, both at home and 
abroad, have taken place during the public life and 
government of the Premier who now rules in Downing 
Street; and as several of them form, each and respec¬ 
tively, an epoch in the annals of the nation with 

j 

which his lordship’s political career has been so closely 
identified, it will be seen that, in the sequel, we 

y 

devote a special chapter to the consideration of this 



6 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


part of our subject, which cannot but be regarded as a 
peculiarly appropriate accompaniment to the history 
of the “ Stanleys of Knowsley.” 




CHAPTER I. 


ORIGIN OF THE FAMILY. 

The rise of tlie House of Stanley takes date so- 
far back as the time of William tlie Conqueror, for 
history records tliat wlien that monarch, came over to 
this country, on his expedition from Normandy, he 
was accompanied by one Adam de Aldithley, and 
his two sons, Lydulph and Adam de Aldithley. 
This family became great favourites with tlie King, 
to whom they rendered valuable services after his 
arrival in England, in return for which, his Majesty 
conferred upon them extensive grants of land, and 
other property and possessions. Lydulph, the eldest 
son, had a son whose name again was Adam de 
Aldithley. This last named Adam de Aldithley 
married Mabella, the daughter of Henry Stanley de 
Stoneley, who was the possessor of the extensive 
manor of Stoneley and Balterley, in Staffordshire, 
and this Mabella, being heiress of Henry de Stoneley, 
the manor of Stoneley and Balterley came to Adam 


8 


THE STANLEYS OF KXOWSLEY. 


de Aldithley, by virtue of bis marriage with Mabella. 

William de Aldithlev, who was the second son of 

the younger Adam de Aldithley,also married a Stanley, 

namelv, Joan, the only daughter and heiress of 

Thomas Stanley, of Stafford, who was a near relative 

of Henry Stanley of Stoneley, whose daughter Mabella 

had already been married to Adam de Aldithley. By 

the last named marriage, the two Aldithlevs, William 

de Aldithley and his cousin Adam, became close 

relatives in a double sense. Bv William de Al- 

«/ 

dithley’s marriage with Joan, daughter and heiress 
of Thomas Stanley, of Stafford, he came into posses¬ 
sion of the manor of Thalk, hi Staffordshire, which 
Thomas Stanley presented to his daughter Joan, as a 
marriage portion. Sometime subsequent to the last 
named marriage, William de Aldithley exchanged 
with his cousin Adam, the manor of Thalk for that 
of Stoneley and one half of Balterley, and having 
taken up his residence at Stoneley, he assumed the 
surname of Stanley, and thus became the original 
founder of the noble family of the Stanleys of 
Hooton, and also, indirectly, the founder of the Stan¬ 
leys of Knowsley, who are the more immediate sub¬ 
jects of our history. It should be here stated, that the 
family of Thomas Stanley, whose daughter Joan, Wil¬ 
liam de Aldithley married, is reputed to have been of 
great antiquity, and of Saxon descent, and to have held 
a noble position in England for a long period before the 


ORIGIN OF THE FAMILY. 


9 


conquest. History does not furnish us very distinctly 
with the direct issue of William Stanley, otherwise de 
Aldithley, but we find that his descendants indirectly 
founded the Stanleys of Hooton and Knowsley. 
Through the marriage of his great-grandson. Sir 
William Stanley, with Joan, the daughter of Sir 
Philip de Bamvile, whose wife was descended from 
Banulph de Sylvester, Lord of Stourton, in Cheshire, 
the forest of Wirral, in Cheshire, came into his 
possession. The issue of this marriage were two 
sons, John and Adam Stanley, together with a daugh¬ 
ter. The eldest son, John, became Lord Stourton, 
and married Mabella, daughter of Sir James Haus- 
ket, of Stourton Parva, by whom he had two sons. 
Sir William, his heir, and John. Sir William mar¬ 
ried Alice, daughter of Hugh Massey, of Timperley, 
and sister of Sir Hamon Massey, of Dunham Massey. 
At his death, in 1397. he left three sons, Sir William, 
John, and Henry, and one daughter, and it was by 
the marriage of the eldest son, Sir William, that the 
Stanleys of Hooton were founded. His wife was 
Margery, daughter and heiress of William de Hooton, 
of Hooton, in Cheshire. After his marriage, he took 
up his abode at Hooton Hall, which he inherited by 
virtue of that marriage; and his next brother, Sir 
John Stanley, is the direct ancestor and founder of 
the Stanleys of Knowsley, which, it will now be seen, 
is the second branch of the family; the descendants 


10 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


of Sir William, who were the baronets of Hooton, 
being, as we have already stated, the oldest branch 
of the family. 



CHAPTEE II. 


SIR JOHN STANLEY, K.G., TO THE FIRST LORD STANLEY. 

Having already briefly sketched the earliest his¬ 
tory of the Stanleys, from the time when their 
progenitors arrived in England, from Normandy, 
we now come to the more immediate portion of our 
task, namely, the History of the House of Derby, 
from the time of its origin in the fourteenth century; 
its first ancestor being, as we have already shewn, 
Sir John Stanley, K.G-., second brother of Sir William 
Stanley, of Hooton. From the very earliest period of 
its existence, the House of Derby has occupied a 
prominent position amongst those which have been 
identified with the most striking events in the great 
historical records of the country. There is, perhaps, 
no locality better known in connection with the 
memorable events which signalised the civil war 
preceding the Commonwealth and the Restoration, 
than Lathom House, near Ormskirk, in Lancashire. 
The part which the noble and heroic Countess of 


12 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


James, tlie seventli Earl of Derby, took at that 
eventful period during tlie seige of Latliom, must he 
well known to every reader of history. As we shall 
have to devote a considerable portion of our space to 
that subject when we come to record the life and 
times of “the Great Stanley,” it is not necessary 
further to dwell upon it at present, hut it is worthy 
of observation, as illustrating the ancient character and 
lineage of the Stanleys, that Lathom House, which, 
from its remarkable and interesting historical asso- 
ciations, must ever hold a prominent place amongst 
the records of the great and daring deeds which 
distinguish the period, became the property of the 
Stanleys, (and indirectly by marriage, remains in the 
family still,) even in the days of their earliest ancestor 
and progenitor, Sir John Stanley, who, at a com¬ 
paratively early age, married Isabel, the daughter and 
heiress of Sir Thomas Lathom, of Lathom and Knowsley, 
and by this marriage became possessed of these now 
well-known mansions and estates. John Stanley, Esq., 
(for he had not yet received the honour of knight¬ 
hood) resided at Newton, near Macclesfield, in Cheshire. 
He was eminently distinguished for valour in the 
field. On the 19th of September, 1357, he fought 
at the famous battle of Poictiers, in France, led by 
Edward, the Black Prince, son of Edward the Third; 
Stanley being under the command of his relation. 
Lord Audley. In this battle, it will be remembered 


SIR JOHN STANLEY, Iv.G. 


13 


that King John of France was taken prisoner, and 
brought to England. A truce having taken place, 
Mr. Stanley visited most of the Courts of Europe 
in order to improve himself in the arts of war. 
During this period he proved himself one of the 
most noted champions in single combat of the age, 
and on his returning to England, through France, 
a haughty French combatant followed him, and 
challenged all England to produce a person 
to engage him in arms. Stanley at once accepted 
the challenge, and, by the king’s directions, the 
encounter took place under the walls of Winchester 
city, the king himself being present. Stanley was 
victorious, slaying his opponent, and for this act of 
bravery the king honoured him with knighthood, 
and he subsequently became a great favourite with 
his majesty. When Edward the Third died, Richard 
the Second, who succeeded him, and who also 
manifested a high regard for Sir John Stanley, 
sent him to Ireland to assist in the total reduction 
of that country. He was so far successful that 
when Richard went over he made all the great 
kings of Ireland do homage to him, and Ireland 
was reduced and subdued to the crown of England; 
and for his services there the king, in 1385, appointed 
him Lord Deputy of Ireland, accompanied by a 
grant of the manor and lands of Blake Castle in that 
country. When King Richard was deposed, on the 


14 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


20th of September, 1399, and King Henry the 
Fourth came to the throne, his majesty being well 
aware of Sir John Stanley’s great power and influence 
in the kingdom, took him into his favour, and 
granted him large possessions in Cheshire. He also 
continued him in his office as Lord Lieutenant of 
Ireland for six years. The king, however, had not 
been lone: on the throne before his enemies began 
to conspire against him, and went so far as to plot 
against his life. At the head of one of these con- 
spiracies were the Percys, Earls of Northumberland 
and Worcester, together with the Earl of March, and 
one Owen Glendower, of Wales, who entered into a 
triple league, offensive and defensive, whereby it 
was agreed that England and Wales should be 
divided into three parts, to be placed under the 
government of the several conspirators. On this 
becoming known to the king, he called Sir John 
Stanley from Ireland, and immediately appointed 
him steward of his household, and by Sir John’s 
advice and assistance a considerable army was raised, 
which the King headed himself, his son and Sir John 
being under him, and with them marched against 
the rebels. Near Shrewsbury they met and engaged 
the enemy, and after a determined battle, the fighting 
being furious on both sides, the king was victorious, 
Sir John Stanley, who eminently distinguished him¬ 
self on this critical occasion, materially contributing 


15 


SIR JOHN STANLEY, K.G. 

towards the victory. The Earl of Northumberland 
was killed, the Earl of Worcester taken prisoner and 
beheaded, and 6000 were slain on the field. Shortly 
after this, in 1405, Sir John received a commission 
to seize upon the Isle of Man, which had been 
forfeited by Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, 
and this commission, which Sir John received along 
with one Boger Leke, also extended to the city of 
York, and its liberties, the king having been informed 
that the city, castle, and precincts of York still held 
out for the deposed King Bichard, then a prisoner in 
Pomfret Castle. In the following year, 1406, Sir 
John obtained a license from his majesty to fortify 
a spacious house he w 7 as then building at Liverpool, 
with embattled walls. In reference to this house, 
Seacome says, “which, when finished he called 
the tower; being ever since well known by that 
name, and is now (1793) standing in good order.” 
He also further says, that Lady Stanley, the widow 
of Sir William, “ did, on the death of Sir John, her 
husband, return, with her children, from Ireland to 
Liverpool, and lived in the house erected there by 
Sir John, called the tower.” In consideration of the 
great services which he had rendered to the king, 
his majesty, on the 6th of April, 1407, granted the 
Isle of Man to Sir John Stanley, and his heirs 
for ever, and that the next year placed him in full 
possession of the Isle of Man, with nothing less than 







16 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


regal and kingly sway, having obtained a grant of the 
Island, together with the castle, formerly called 
Holm Town, as well as the adjoining isles, with the 
regalias, franchises, and other large privileges, “ to be 
“holden of the said King, his heirs and successors, by 
“homage, and the service of two falcons, payable on 
“the days of their coronation.” He continued in favour 
with the King up to the time of his Majesty’s death, 
and on Henry the Fifth coming to the throne, 
the royal approbation was maintained, for on the 
King’s accession he was created a Knight of the 
Garter, and was also made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 
for a period of six years. He died on the 6th of 
January, 1414, whilst still fulfilling the office of 
Lord Lieutenant. He left behind him, at his death, 
six children, namely—four sons and two daughters. 
The eldest son was Sir John, who of course succeeded 
His father. Henry was the second, Thomas the third, 
and Kalph was the fourth. 


Sir John Stanley, the eldest son, and heir of the 
first ancestor of the “ Stanleys of Knowsley,” did not 
take any very prominent part in the public affairs of 
the nation, but like his immediate progenitor, he was 
true to the King, and received, during his lifetime, 
several marks of the royal favour. For many years 
lie was a Knight of the Shire, and during the 



THOMAS, FIRST LORI) STANLEY. 


17 


reign of Henry tlie Sixth, he held the office of 
Constable of Carnarvon Castle, an office which, at 
that period, was considered to he one of high honour. 
At the same time he also held the office of Justice of 
Chester, and, during the same king’s reign was 
Sheriff of Anglesey. He married Isabel, the daughter 
of Sir John, and sister and heiress of Sir William 

4 

Harrington, Knight, of Hornby, near Lancaster, 
Lancashire, and the eldest son by this marriage, Sir 
Thomas, became first Baron Stanley, this Sir John, 
therefore, being grandfather to Thomas, the first 
Earl of Derby. Besides Thomas, the first Baron 
Stanley, Sir John had also two other sons. Bichard 
and Edward. Both these sons went into the Church, 
and held high positions in it. Being closely con¬ 
nected with the County Palatine, the influence of the 
family led to their promotion, and they were each in 
turn made Archdeacon of Chester, Bichard being the 
first Archdeacon, and at his death, his brother 
Edward was appointed to the vacant office. Sir John 
died in 1444. 


Sir Thomas Stanley, son and heir of Sir John, and 
first Lord Stanley, obtained the title by the favour 
of the crown, to which, like his predecessors, lie was 
warmly devoted. Having been for many years 
Knight of the Shire, he was summoned to the House 



18 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


of Peers on the 20tli of January, 1456, being the 34th 
year of the reign of Henry the Sixth. He held the 
office of Lord Lieutenant for six years, but subsequent 
to that period he was essentially a courtier, having for 
several years held the office of Comptroller of the 
Household, and Chamberlain to his Majesty. His lord- 
ship married a lady of the highest lineage, which allied 
the Stanleys directly to royalty. This lady was 
Joan, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Robert Goushill, 
of Heveringliam, in the county of Nottinghamshire, by 
Elizabeth, his wife. The last named lady was the 
widow of Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, and 
daughter and co-lieiress of Richard Eitzalan, Earl of 
Arundel, by Elizabeth, his wife, daughter of William 
Bohun, Earl of Hereford and Essex, by his wife. 
Princess Elizabeth Plantagenet, daughter of King 
Edward the First. It will thus be seen that the first 
Baron Stanley formed an alliance which brought the 
Knowsley family into immediate relationship with 
the blood royal of the day. The issue of this marriage 
were four sons and two daughters. The eldest son, 
Thomas, ultimately became the first Earl of Derby. 
The other sons were Sir William, of Holt Castle, in 
Denbighshire, whose life was forfeited on the scaffold, 
on a charge of conspiracy, made, however, by a self¬ 
accused accomplice, and upon which we shall more fully 
dwell in a future stage of our history. We may however 
here remark, briefly, that the devotion and bravery 


THOMAS, FIRST EARL OF DERBY. 19 

manifested by Sir William to tlie royal cause, at the 
battle of Boswortli Field, renders tlie charge of his 
having subsequently been engaged in a conspiracy 
against the King, highly improbable. The third son 
was Sir John, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir 
Thomas Weever, of Weever, in Cheshire, and by this 
marriage he obtained the Weever estates, and became 
the founder of the Stanleys of Alderley, the present 
Baron who sits in the House of Peers, being Edward 
John, second Lord Stanley, of Alderley. The youngest 
son was James, who entered the Church, and became 
Archdeacon of Carlisle. His lordship died in the 
year 1460. 


Thomas, the first Earl of Derby, succeeded his 
father as Lord Stanley, in 1460, but was only elevated 
to the earldom 25 years afterwards, shortly after the 
close of the famous battle of Boswortli Field, in which 
ids lordship took a distinguished and prominent part 
against the tyrant Richard, Duke of Gloucester, 
fighting on the side of the Earl of Richmond, after- 
wards Henry the Seventh. It may, without any 
exaggeration be stated that the splendid career of the 
first Earl of Derby, and his daring and bravery in the 
field, when Lord Stanley, marks one of the brightest 
pages in English History, of which the Stanleys of 




20 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


Knowsley may well feel proud. He, like his imme¬ 
diate ancestors, was devotedly attached to the crown, 
and manifested a fervent spirit of loyalty in all the 
great historical events in which he took part. It was 
in the first year of Edward the Fourth that he was 
summoned to Parliament, and about that period he 
allied himself in marriage with Eleanor, daughter of 
the Earl of Salisbury, and sister to the Earl of 
Warwick, who was popularly known as the “ King- 
making Earl.” His lot being cast in the days of the 
“ Wars of the Ptoses,” he espoused the cause of the 
House of York, although his relative, the Earl of 
Warwick, when he threw off his allegiance to King 
Edward, and joined the Lancastrians, made over¬ 
tures to Lord Stanley to join him in that cause, 
hut his lordship’s loyalty to the crown was strong 
enough to make him resist the temptation. By 
this marriage he had six sons, the exploits of one 
of whom—the fifth, Edward—we shall have to notice 
in a subsequent portion of our history. His first wife 
died several years after the marriage, and subsequently 
he contracted a second marriage with a lady of the 
most exalted rank—Margaret of Lancaster, mother 
of Henry the Seventh. This royal lady had already 
been twice married, and at the time of her marriage 
with Lord Stanley, she was a widow in a double 
sense. Her first husband was Edmund, Earl of 
Richmond, who died in about a year after the marriage, 


THOMAS, FIRST EARL OF DERBY. 


21 


namely, in 1456. Her second marriage was with 
Henry Stafford, second son of Humphrey, Duke of 
Buckingham, who also died in a very few years after 
the nuptials. The circumstances attendant upon the 
royal lady’s last marriage, with Lord Stanley, are of a 
somewhat extraordinary and romantic character, and 
are thus graphically described by an eminent historian 
of the House of Stanley :— 

“Her third marriage,” says the writer, “with Lord 
“ Stanley, was anything but a love match—rather what 
“ the French call a marriage de convenance, contracted 
“ solely from prudential motives. The Countess, who 
“ was distinguished for a rigour of devotion, uncommon 
“ even in those times, had made a vow, after the death of 
“ her second husband, never to admit a third to her bed,. 
“ and Stanley coolly assented to this very singular 
“ condition previous to the marriage—if such it can be 
“ called. It requires no sketch of fancy to conceive 
“that the ‘baked meats’ served up at the celebration 
“ of this unique compact— 

‘Did coldly furnish forth the marriage table.’ 

“ It is surely needless to add, that the peerage 
“ records no ‘issue’ as the result of this strange matri- 
“ rnonial conjunction—the only one of the kind, we 
“ presume, that has ever yet been recorded in the 
“ history of the human race. Like the famous 
“ ancestors of the Earls of Dalhousie, ‘ the laird o’ 


22 


THE STANLEYS OF KXOWSLEY. 


“ Cockpen,’ the noble Stanley certainly had for his 
“ bride, so far as rank and title were concerned— 

‘ a weel tappit hen, 

‘ But nae chickens at all had the laird o’ Cockpen.’ 

“ To judge from his portrait now before us, he 
“ looks—with his bonnet perched upon his lofty brow, 
** his keen bright eye, and his flowing beard—one of the 
“ very last whom we should have suspected to be guilty 
“ of such atrocious self-denial. The Countess, whose 
“ portrait is also in our possession, is drawn with 
“ uplifted hands in the attitude of prayer—her breviary 
“ laid open on the cushion before her. She is arrayed 
“ in the muffled habit of a religionist, and looks the 
“ incarnation of a saint already half exhaled ; and we 
“ dare pledge our creed upon the fact that she not 
“ only made the vow of continence ascribed to her, but 
“ kept it into the bargain. Indeed, it is said to be yet 
“ extant in the archives of St. John’s College, Cambridge, 
“ which she founded. If so, we trust it will never be 
“ exhumed, and published as a formula for the 
“ adoption of the sex—or, as the poet happily 
“ expresses it— 

‘For general subscription by the ladies.’ 

“ It was administered by her chaplain and confessor, 
“ the wise, learned, pious, and candid John Fisher.” 

During a considerable portion of the reign of 
Edward, Lord Stanley was attached to the royal house- 


THOMAS, FIRST EARL OF DERBY. 23 

hold, and largely enjoyed the King’s favour, having 
filled, amongst other offices, that of Steward of the 
Household. In the Civil War which raged, he per¬ 
formed several acts of valour, during the time he was 
commanding the army in Scotland, and amongst his 
achievements, at this time, he took the town of 
Berwick by assault. 

After Edward’s death, which happened shortly 
after Lord Stanley’s marriage to Henry the Seventh’s 
mother, the designs of Bichard, the usurper, excited 
the deadly hostility of Lord Stanley; and, along 
with others, he determined, if possible, to bring 
about the downfall of the tyrant; but his plans for 
effecting this object, as well as those of Bichmond, 
with whom he was intimately associated in the project, 
were, from prudential motives, kept as secret as 
possible. There is, however, every reason to believe 
that his intentions came to the knowledge of Bicliard, 
for the year after Stanley had commanded in Scotland, he 
had a narrow escape of his life at a council which was 
held in the Tower, when Lord Hastings was arrested 
and lost his life. On this occasion, one of Bichard’s 
soldiers struck Lord Stanley on the head with a pole¬ 
axe, and the wound, which was a severe one, had well 
nigh been fatal. Bichard pretended that it was an 
accident, but this was not believed, and there can be 
little doubt, if historical records are reliable, that the 
tyrant intended his lordship’s death, which subsequent 


24 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


events, indeed, render certain. Although Lord Stan¬ 
ley, on this occasion, received serious wounds, he was 
arrested and imprisoned on a charge of conspiracy. 
Events which happened shortly afterwards, however, 
gave an entire change to the aspect of affairs. Eichard 
knew and felt the power and influence of Lord Stanley,, 
and therefore feared him as much as he hated him. 

In little more than a month after the arrest of 
Lord Stanley, Eichard was suddenly and unexpec¬ 
tedly elevated to the throne, when, in order no doubt 
to cajole his lordship, the usurper not only released 
him from imprisonment, hut heaped dignities upon 
him, including that of appointing him High Con¬ 
stable of England, and he also conferred upon him 
the Order of the Garter. Not only so, but Lord 
Stanley’s lady was selected to hear the train at 
the coronation of the usurper’s Queen. The sequel 
disclosed the truth, that all these honours, suddenly 
offered to Stanley, originated in the tyrant’s mind 
out of duplicity and deception engendered by fear, 
and that Eichard had in reality, no good feeling 
whatever towards Stanley. It subsequently trans¬ 
pired, that his eldest son, Lord Strange (this title 
he assumed by virtue of his marriage with the heiress 
of that barony) was organising a powerful force on 
his Lincolnshire estates, to oppose Eichard; and the 
latter, by offering favours to Lord Strange’s father, 
indulged the hope of winning him over; but in this 


THOMAS, FIRST EARL OF DERBY. 


25 


lie was altogether mistaken, for, as the result proved, 
Stanley became Richard’s deadliest enemy; the sus¬ 
picious, sudden, and mysterious disappearance of the 
young princes having hastened the final event. Their 
death led the Duke of Buckingham, who was origi¬ 
nally in favour of Richard, to suggest that the crown 
should he transferred to Henry, Earl of Richmond, 
and this proposal was eagerly adopted, Lord Stanley 
readily throwing himself into the cause of Richmond, 
assisted by his brother, Sir William Stanley. The two 
brothers marched an army of their dependents, num¬ 
bering upwards of six thousand, in the direction of 
Lichfield, and were at the same time in constant com¬ 
munication with Richmond, who was in advance, 
after landing in Wales. It was in a field in the vil¬ 
lage of Atherstone, near Tamworth, where the leaders 
of Richmond’s party met to consult how they could 
best give battle to the tyrant, this meeting being 
secret and unobserved. Meanwhile, Richard had 
already arrested Lord Strange, as a hostage for the 
fidelity of his father, and the latter was naturally in 
a state of considerable anxiety as to the safety of his 
son, who was a prisoner in Richard’s camp. Notwith¬ 
standing, however, the peril in which he knew his 
son was placed, whilst in the power of the tyrant, he 
was at the same time most anxious for the success 
and triumph of Richmond. The battle was arranged 
for the following day, August 22nd, 1485, and a short 


26 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


time before it commenced be received a message from 
Richard, stating, that if he did not instantly join him in 
the field he would decapitate Lord Strange, arid this 
message was accompanied by the tyrant’s oath, that it 
would certainly be carried out. Lord Stanley returned 
for his answer the following concise and expressive 
reply, “ I have more sons, and cannot come.” Imme¬ 
diately afterwards the decisive battle commenced, Lord 
* Stanley and his brother—at first, with their men, but 
spectators of the fight—ultimately fighting side by side 
for Richmond, the result being Richard’s downfall and 
death, and Richmond’s triumph. As regards Lord 
Strange, Richard would have carried out his threat, had 
he not been dissuaded from it by some of those around 
him, for historians add, that the tyrant, as he had 
sworn to do, ordered the Lord Strange to be be¬ 
headed at the instant the two armies were to engage 
but some of his council told him “now was the 
time to fight, and not to execute,” and the Lord 
Strange was remanded to the tents until the battle 
was over. There is a difference amongst historians 
as to whether, after the battle, Lord Stanley or his 
brother, Sir William, placed the crown which was 
taken from Richard’s helmet, on the head of Rich¬ 
mond, but we are inclined to think that the balance 
of evidence is in favour of the act having been per¬ 
formed by the former. This memorable battle was 
followed by the “Union of the Roses,” Henrv the 

V 


SIR WILLIAM STANLEY. 


27 


Seventh of Lancaster, having on the 18tli of January, 
1486, married Elizabeth, the “ White Bose,” of York, 
daughter of King Edward ; and thus, by the death of 
the last of the Plantagenets, was brought to a termina¬ 
tion that deadly struggle between the Houses of York 
and Lancaster, which had extended over a period of 
three decades, deluged England with blood, and cost 
more than a hundred thousand lives. 

On the 30tli of October, 1485, the day of Henry’s 
coronation, Lord Stanley was created Earl of Derby, and 
filled several great offices of State, and in 1496, he went 
on a diplomatic mission to the court of France. 
He died in the year 1504, and was buried at Burs- 
cougli Abbey, near Ormskirk. Some slight ^remains 
of this Abbey, which is situate within the Lathom 
desmesne, and which was founded by the Earl’s an¬ 
cestors, are still preserved. His lordship had six sons 
and four daughters, all, of course, by his first wife. 
His second, who survived him five years, was interred 
in one of the chapels in Westminster Abbey. 

We have already referred to the ignominious 
death of Sir William Stanley, who fought with his 
brother, the Earl, then Lord Stanley, at the battle of 
Boswortli. After the bravery and devoted loyalty 
which he displayed towards Bichmond on that 
memorable battle field, it is almost impossible to 
believe that he could be guilty of the crime which, 
ten years afterwards, was laid to his charge. But 


28 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


so it was that early in the year 1495, he was charged 
with assisting in a conspiracy to place Perkin War- 
heck on the throne. As regards this pretender, or 
rather tool, it should he stated that in the year 1493, 
the Duchess of Burgundy, sister to King Edward the 
Fourth, and an inveterate enemy to King Henry and 
the House of Lancaster, disturbed his peace hy set¬ 
ting up one Perkin Warheck, to personate and take 
upon himself to he Eichard, the younger son of 
Edward the Fourth. Several of the enemies of the 
king supported the duchess in this matter, and en¬ 
tered into a conspiracy to depose King Henry. 
Amongst them was Sir Kobert Clifford, who, on the 
conspiracy being discovered, in order to save his own 
life, confessed to having been concerned in it, as the 
chief conspirator, and at the same time charged Sir 
William Stanley with being his principal abettor, and 
on this charge he was arrested and tried. Sir Eobert 
Clifford, being his accuser, stated openly in the 
council, that in a conversation with Sir Wil¬ 
liam Stanley on the subject, Sir William remarked, 
“that if he certainly knew the young man, called 
“ Perkin Warbeck, to be really the son of Edward the 
“Fourth, he would never draw his sword or bear arms 
“ against him.” This, even, according to Clifford him¬ 
self, was all the evidence against Sir William. When 
the charge was made King Henry appeared to dis¬ 
believe it altogether, stating, that it was impossible 



SIR WILLIAM STANLEY. 


29 


to impute treason to a man wlio had so nobly fought 
lor him, and to whom, indeed, he was indebted for 
the very crown he wore; a man to whom he had 
felt it his duty, on every consideration of gratitude, 
to express his deepest thankfulness; a man, moreover, 
whose brother, the Earl of Derby, was his own step¬ 
father ; a man to whom he had even entrusted his per¬ 
son, as his lord chamberlain. The charge, however, was 
persistently maintained by Clifford, and what renders 
the whole subject more extraordinary and mysterious 
is, that when Sir William was called upon to answer 
the accusation, he neither denied nor acknowledged 
his guilt. The course he adopted astonished and 
bewildered those present at the time, as well it 
might; but it is far from improbable, judging from 
his antecedents, that he felt too indignant to reply, 
believing, possibly, that his accuser would be discre¬ 
dited, and that he would be instantly and honourably 
acquitted. Unfortunately, however, he was con¬ 
demned to death, and the sentence was carried out, 
the unhappy knight being beheaded at Tower 
Hill, on the 16th of February. It might reasonably 
be supposed that a self-accused conspirator would 
have been discredited; and, in the relative position 
in which he was placed towards Sir William, 
it might have been expected that the king would not 
have carried out the sentence, but his Majesty, we 
are told, was “ a mean and avaricious man,” and as 


30 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


Sir William was very wealthy, being possessed of 
upwards of £3000 per annum in landed property, 
and 40,000 marks in plate and money, besides other 
property of great value, which was afterwards dis¬ 
covered at his mansion, Holt Castle, when his effects, 
confiscated to the crown, were seized, the forfeiture 
of this is said to have acted as a powerful motive for 
the course which the king adopted. 

Notwithstanding the sad fate of his brother, to 
which the king was thus a party, the loyalty of the 
earl was unshaken, and his subsequent conduct 
shewed great magnanimity. In a few months after 
Sir William was executed, namely, on the 24th of 
June, Henry the Seventh paid a visit to his 
stepfather, at Knowsley and Latliom, spending a 
month with the earl, by whom he was entertained on 
a scale of princely hospitality; and in order to shew 
the self sacrificing loyalty and devotion of the earl, 
even in the deep affliction under which he must have 
been suffering at the untimely death of his brother, it 
may be stated that the moment he received the 
intimation of the intended roval visit, he set about 
enlarging and decorating both Lathom and Knowsley, 
in order to entertain his Majesty in a manner becoming 
his position as king. 

Seacome, after commenting with much severity 
on the king’s conduct in this matter, says that at the 
battle of Bosworth the chances were going against 


SIR EDWARD STANLEY. 


31 


Richmond, until Sir William Stanley brought 3000 
horse and foot into the field, and then asks “ How 
“ could it then enter into his head or heart to put him 
“ to death who had done for him all that mortality 
“ could do ? Satisfied his life, vanquished his enemies, 
“ and given him a crown, and all his crime founded upon 
“ a doubtful and unguarded expression, reported by a 
“ treacherous friend, a rebel, and a traitor to his king, 
“ by his own confession to save his own life; and 
“ therefore should have been the less regarded, when 
“ the duty, loyalty, and most worthy actions of so 
“ deserving a subject were in competition with it.” 

In connexion with this royal visit, a story of an 
amusing character is told, which is as follows:— 
When the King visited Latliom, the Earl, after his 
royal guest had viewed the whole house, conducted 
him up to the leads for a prospect of the country. 
The Earl’s fool, who was among the company, 
observing the King draw near to the edge, not 
guarded by a balustrade, stepped up to the Earl, and 
pointing down to the precipice, said, “Tom, remember 
Will.” The King perfectly appreciated the meaning 
of the remark, and made a precipitate retreat down 
stairs, and out of the house ; and the fool, for some¬ 
time afterwards, was grievously mortified that his 
lord had not had the courage to take the opportunity 
of avenging himself for the death of his brother. 

In the year 1513, the earl’s fifth son, Edward,. 


32 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


performed prodigies of valour at tlie battle of Flodden 
Field, being in charge of the left wing of the English 
army. The English arrows were so fearfully effective 
on the extreme right of the Scottish army, that a body 
of Highlanders broke their ranks, and rushed in 
disorder down hill. Sir Edward Stanley, with the 
men of Lancashire and Cheshire, attacked them both 
in flank and rear, and they were routed with terrible 
slaughter. At the same moment, however, the Scottish 
troops led on by their King, were making sad havoc 
among the main body of the English army, which was 
under the command of the Earl of Surrey, and for a 
time the fortune of war was in favour of the Scotch. 
But Sir Edward Stanley came up on one flank of 
the King’s division, after defeating the Highlanders, 
and the Scottish troops being also attacked on the 
other side, “ the gallant monarch fell, with the flower 
of his nobility.” Sir Walter Scott’s allusion to Sir 
Edward, in Marmion , will be familiar to every one— 

“ Charge, Chester, charge !—On, Stanley, on ! ” 

In the following year, Sir Edward had the title of 
Baron Monteagle conferred upon him, in recognition of 
his signal services at Flodden; but it fell into 
abeyance about the commencement of the seventeenth 
century, and was only revived some years ago, when 
it was conferred upon Mr. Spring Pace, a member of 
a former whig administration. 


CHAPTER III. 


THOMAS, SECOND EARL, TO WILLIAM, SIXTH EARL 

OF DERBY. 

Lord Strange, who was held captive by Richard, 
during the battle of Bosworth Field, was of course 
released when the tyrant was defeated. He had 
issue by his marriage, besides daughters, two sons, the 
eldest of whom, Thomas, became the second Earl of 
Derby, his father, the son of the first Earl, dying in 
the year 1497; the second Earl of Derby, therefore, 
succeeding his grandfather, who died, as has been al¬ 
ready stated, in 1504. Beyond his being a courtier, 
there is nothing particularly noteworthy in the Earl’s 
career. He was a confidant of King Henry, and 
accompanied him in the several expeditions which he 
undertook, and being a member of his Majesty’s 
household, he carried the royal sword between the 
Emperor Charles the Fifth, and King Henry the 
Eighth, from Dover to Canterbury, in the year 1520, 
on the occasion of the first named monarch 
visiting this country. Candour compels us to say 


34 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


that a dark cloud hangs over his memory, hut it is 
gratifying to he able to add, that it is the only blot 
upon the otherwise brilliant escutcheon of the Derby 
family. In the present age, a trial in which the 
noble Earl was engaged, would not be tolerated, and 
we must therefore regard, with considerable for¬ 
bearance, the peculiar circumstances in which he was 
placed. The facts are simple, and are only interesting 
in so far as they serve to illustrate the singular 
incredulity of the time. It is recorded, that Edward 
Stafford, the last Duke of Buckingham, in that line of 
the family, had been led to believe by an astrologer, 
that he was next in succession to the throne. Eor the 
part he took in this singularly romantic delusion, he 
was tried before a jury of his peers, the Earl of Derby 
being one of them. The other members of the jury 
consisted of a duke, a marquis, seven earls, and twelve 
barons, the Duke of Norfolk being president; and it is 
a remarkable fact, as illustrating the extraordinary 
self-sacrificing character of the time, that the Earl of 
Surrey, son of the Duke of Norfolk, had married the 
daughter of the very Duke of Buckingham, who was 
then before his peers on a trial in which his life or 
death was the issue. It might have been supposed, in 
the case of the Duke, that parental affection would 
have prevailed, by his interposition with his brother 
peers, but the result proved it to be otherwise. Buck¬ 
ingham was condemned for the offence, and expiated 


EDWARD, THIRD EARL OF DERBY. 35 

his then considered crime on the scaffold. In an en¬ 
lightened age like the present, it is difficult to believe 
in the reality of such a proceeding, but we only record 
what history has given us, and the moral must be left 
to our readers. The subject of our notice, Thomas, the 
second Earl of Derby, married Anne, daughter of 
Edward, Lord Hastings and Hungerford. It is not 
unworthy of record, that his death took place in ten 
days after that of his brother peer, the Duke of 
Buckingham, to whose ignominious end the Earl had 
been a party. The second Earl of Derby died on the 
23rd of May, 1521, and was succeeded by his son 
Edward. During his life time he gave up the title of 
“ King ” for “ Lord ” of the Isle of Man. 

O 


The reigns of Mary and Elizabeth, in which the 
third Earl of Derby lived, as well as in the time of 
Henry the Eighth and Edward the Sixth, were 
distinguished as well as disgraced by many occur¬ 
rences in the history of those eventful times. It is 
no part of our present task to make any passing 
remarks on the questionable, not to say the indiscreet, 
favouritism which the latter always evinced towards 
the Earl of Leicester. It may safely be left to the 
judgment of posterity to pronounce upon that much 
disputed point, but there can be no question that in 
many respects, she dignified and adorned the crown 
which she wore. Both Queens, like the two kings 



36 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


who preceded them, were in accord in their recog¬ 
nition and appreciation of Edward, the third Earl 
of Derby. The career of this Earl was contemporaneous 
with all the dazzling court brilliancies which charac¬ 
terised that period in the history of the country. 
The great Cardinal Wolsey was then in the zenith 
of his fame, and the Earl of Derby appears to 
have been desirous even to eclipse him in his external 
magnificent displays. He was a prominent actor 
on the occasion when King Henry had an interview 
with the French King, in 1532; and when Anne 
Boleyn came to London, on the occasion of her 
coronation, the Earl of Derby received her at 
Greenwich, and brought her thence to London in his 
own barge. In after years he was equally popular 
with the crown, and the Order of the Garter, which, 
down to the present day has scarcely ever been 
separated from the Derby family, was bestowed by 
King Edward on the third Earl. When Queen Mary 
was crowned, the Earl of Derby was Lord Steward, 
and, in order to be present at her coronation, he 
travelled from the family mansion at Knowsley, in 
almost regal state. The expenses of the cavalcade 
must have been enormous, for, unlike tire present day, 
there were then no railways, and his lordship and his 
retinue had to travel by road. The attendants who 
accompanied his lordship on this occasion are said to 
have consisted of upwards of four score in velvet, and 


EDWARD, THIRD EARL OF DERBY. 37 

between two and three hundred in livery. He 
was also very popular with “ Good Queen Bess,” who 
reposed so much confidence in him, that she was in 
the habit of deputing to him the duty of adminis¬ 
tering the Oath of Supremacy. 

In his hospitalities, the noble Earl was unequalled 
in the princely liberality which he was in the habit 
of displaying, and it has been said of him, by one of his 
biographers, that “with Edward, Earl of Derby’s death, 
the glory of hospitality seemed to fall asleep.” In 
proof of his loyalty and devotion to the throne and the 
constitution,it is also recorded that he offered ten thou¬ 
sand men, at his own cost, to suppress the last rebellion; 
“meat, drink, money, and money’s worth, to two thou¬ 
sand, every Good Friday, for five and thirty years; 
feeding the aged, in number, three score and ten, twice 
a day, besides all comers thrice a week; and, what is by 
no means to be omitted, 'liis cunning in setting bones, 
disjointed or broken, his surgery, and desire to help 
the poor! ’ ” The Earl at the ancient family seat in 
Lancashire, had around him the enormous number of 
two hundred and fifty servants. In reference to his 
tenantry, he studiously adhered to the principle 
of never raising the rents of any of them, a principle 
which seems to have animated each suceeding Earl, for 
we have reasons to know that the present Earl, most 
religiously enforces upon his agents the obligation of 
never advancing the rents of any of the tenants who 


:38 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


occupied lands or tenements belonging to him at the 
period when he succeeded to the Earldom. The Earl 
was three times married, his first wife being Dorothy, 
second daughter of the Duke of Norfolk ; and, dying 
on the 24th of October, 1572, he was succeeded by his 
son Henry, by his first wife. The Earls funeral took 
place with unusual pomp and ceremony. He was the 
first of the family buried at Ormskirk. 


The fourth Earl of Derby, Henry, did not 
distinguish himself in any way worthy of the 
great fame of his ancestors, and we have, therefore, 
little to say in reference to his public or private 
career. By his marriage he became connected with 
the blood royal, having been united with Margaret, 
daughter of Henry Clifford, second Earl of Cumber¬ 
land, by his first marriage with Eleanor, daughter and 
co-heiress of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, and 
Mary, Queen Dowager of France, youngest sister of 
King Henry the Eighth. The only notable events in 
the life-time of the Earl are two, and we are bound to 
confess, if history does not err, that in one of them he 
does not appear to advantage. He was one of the 
peers on the occasion of the trial of Mary Queen 
of Scots, but there is no feature in that otherwise 
memorable historical event, which calls for any special 
remark. He was, however, also Lord High Steward 



FERDINAND, FIFTH EARL OF DERBY. 39 

on the occasion of the trial of Philip Howard, Earl of 
Arundel, who, having been prosecuted in the Star 
Chamber, and fined £10,000, and imprisonment 
“during the Queen’s pleasure”—which was for four 
years—for “entertaining Romish priests in his family,” 
was afterwards brought to trial in Westminster Hall, 
in April, 1589, on fresh charges, “none of which,” it 
is recorded, “ could be substantiated, except that of his 
being reconciled to the Church of Rome, and on that 
ground alone was he found guilty, and condemned to 
death. A prosecution so flagrant disgusted the whole 
body of the peerage, twentyfive only of the most 
abject of whom appeared to sit in judgment on him. 
Over these, the Earl of Derby presided.” He was 
condemned but not executed, and after an imprison¬ 
ment of three years, died, it was supposed, by 
poison, on the 19tli October, 1595. Queen Eliza¬ 
beth, during the wdiole of the proceedings, evinced 
a bitter hatred towards him. The chronicle of 
his death says, speaking of the Earl of Derby, “by a 
strange retribution he was preceded to the grave by 
the judge who so unjustly condemned him.” The 
Earl of Derby died on the 25tli of September, 1592, 
having left, as his successor, (besides other sons and 
daughters) Ferdinand, who became the fifth Earl. 


Ferdinand the fifth Earl of Derby, who only lived 
two years to enjoy the honours incident to the Earldom, 



40 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


was more distinguished for liis fragmentary literary 
productions than for any other marks of distinction. 
In early life he married Alice, daughter of Sir John 
Spencer, of Althorp, in Northamptonshire, an ancestor 
of the present Earl Spencer. The issue of this 
marriage were three daughters, hut no sons. During 
the Earl’s lifetime, a man named Hacket, an agent of 
the Jesuits, was convicted of treason, having been 
brought to trial, chiefly at the instance of his lordship, 
and it is believed that the part which the Earl of 
Derby took in this transaction, led to his lordship 
being poisoned, and that one of the Earl’s attendants 
was bribed to carry out the deed. Deferring to the 
subject, Camden, in his memorials of the Stanley 
family, when speaking of the Earl, says, “he died in the 
flower of his youth, not without suspicion of poison; 
no small suspicion lighted on the gentleman of his 
horse, who, as soon as the Earl took to his bed, took 
his best horse and fled.” The Earl died on the 16tli 
of April, 1594. 


Ferdinand, the fifth Earl, having died without 
male issue, was succeeded by his brother, William, 
as sixth Earl. He married into an ancient family, 
his wife being Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Yere, 
seventeenth Earl of Oxford. Notlongafter he succeeded 
to the earldom, he turned his attention to the Isle of 




WILLIAM, SIXTH EARL OF DERBY. 41 

Man, in wliicli the family had now for so many 
years held sway. He came into possession of the 
Lordship of the Isle, by virtue of a purchase from the 
co-heirs of his brother, which was ratified by parlia¬ 
ment, and the crown gave him a new grant of the 
island. The manner in which his lordship conducted 
himself gained for him a large amount of respect, as 
will he seen from the following facts: “ James the 
“First, whose eldest son, Henry, had been created 
“ Earl of Chester, a title which, after his death, had 
“ been conferred on Charles, his second son, visited the 
“county in 1617, in great state, being attended by 
“ many honourable earls, reverend bishops, and worthy 
“ knights and courtiers, besides all the gentry of the 
“ shire. He was received at Chester with every mark 
“ of loyalty, by the mayor and officers of the city, who, 
“ after a series of entertainments, presented him with 
“ ‘ a fair standing cup, having a covering doubly gilt, 
“and therein one hundred jacobins of gold.’ Among 
“ the parties in attendance was William, Earl of Derby, 
“ who was then Chamberlain of the Palatine.” The 
Stanleys, as we have already seen, had long been 
connected with Cheshire, and had enjoyed many 
offices of the highest distinction. Upon every occa¬ 
sion the citizens of Chester were anxious to show 
their respect to the members of a family that had so 
greatly contributed to their welfare; accordingly, in 
the Harleian MSS. it is recorded that, “ on the 18th 


42 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ September, 1630, there came to Chester, being on 
a Saturday, the Duchess of Tremoyle in France, and 
“ mother-in-law to the Lord Strange, and many other 
“ great estates; and all the gentry of Cheshire, Flint¬ 
shire, and Denbighshire went to meet her at Hoole 
“ Heath, with the Earl of Derby, being at least six 
“ hundred men; all the gentlemen of the artelery yard, 
“ lately erected at Chester, met her in Cow Lane, in 
“ very stately manner, all with great white and blew 
“ fithers, and went before her chariot to the bishop’s 
“ pallas, and making a yard, let her through the midst, 
“and there gave her three volleys of shot, and so 
“ returned to their yard; also, the maior and aldermen, 
“ in their best gowns and aparel, were on a stage in 
“ the Eastgate to entertagn her.” 

The Earl, who spent his time chiefly in Knowsley, 
the Isle of Man, and Bidston in Cheshire, was 
very domesticated in his habits, rarely taking any 
active part in public life, although he was very 
regular in his attendance as a Peer of Parliament. 
We should say that Bidston Hall was built by the 
Earl, soon after he succeeded to the title and estates 
of his brother Ferdinand. William, at the death of his 
brother, was abroad, and after his return he had much 
difficulty in vindicating his claim to the estates, 
against the pretensions of the daughters of the de¬ 
ceased Earl. Having, in consecpience, passed many 

4 

years in a state of contention foreign to his character 




WILLIAM, SIXTH EAEL OF DERBY. 


43 


and disposition, as soon as lie arrived in England, and 
was finally seated in liis possessions, lie surrendered 
the cares and duties of liis property to liis son James, 
and retired for the summer to Bidston, which the old 
chroniclers say, “he affected very much.” He also 
resided very much at Chester, being Lord Lieutenant 
and Chamberlain of the county, and died at Ches¬ 
ter, on the 29th of September, 1642, being suc¬ 
ceeded by James, “The Great Stanley,” whose 
memorable career and unfortunate death we shall now 
proceed to narrate. 





CHAPTER IV. 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 

James, “The Great Stanley,” and seventh Earl of 
Derby, who succeeded his father, William, the sixth 
Earl, bore the title of Lord Strange up to the time of 
his father’s death. When Charles the First ascended 
the throne, the then Lord Strange, the subject of our 
notice, was a young man, and was among the large 
number of those who were made Knights of the Bath, 
on the occasion of Charles’s coronation. In early life 
he formed an exalted alliance with the French royal 
family, marrying Charlotte de la Tremouille, third 
daughter of Claude, Duke of Tliouars, Prince of Pal- 
mont, and a peer of France, who was descended ma¬ 
ternally through a Princess of Orange, from the royal 
house of Montpensier. By this union the Earl had a 
numerous family. In his younger days he was, like his 
father, domesticated in his habits and tastes, and spent 
his time mainly at Latliom and Knowsley, freely ming¬ 
ling with the tenantry on the estates and the population 



JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 45 

of tlie immediate neighbourhood; relieved only by 
frequent visits to the Isle of Man, where the Derby 
family then reigned in truly regal state. His father, 
the sixth earl, who was at this time still living, had, as 
we have already stated, handed over the management 
and superintendence of the family estates, both in 
Lancashire and the Isle of Man, to Lord Strange, 
and it was while his lordship was living in the retire¬ 
ment to which we have alluded, that the civil war 
broke out, and Lord Strange at once espoused the 
cause of the King in opposition to the Parliament. 
Warrington was the locality which Charles, at the 
commencement of the war, fixed upon for his head 
quarters, and the King, having called upon the several 
counties to assist him in the struggle against the 
Parliamentary forces, Lord Strange was placed at the 
head of the counties of Lancashire, Cheshire, and 
Korth Wales, as Lord Lieutenant, and he at once 
entered upon the arduous task of raising the royal 
forces in these different counties. 

Having got together several thousand men, Lord 
Strange marched them in the direction of Manchester, 
a town, which, on the first outbreak of the war, 
manifested a desire, on the part of several of its 
inhabitants, to espouse the cause of the parliament. 
Having called upon the inhabitants to lay down their 
arms, and deliver up their magazines, a demand which 
was not complied with, an engagement took place 


46 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


between the royal forces and the residents, in which 
eleven of the latter were killed, but his lordship had 
the worst of the encounter, and, after losing thirty of 
his men, he retreated from the attack. Notwith¬ 
standing, however, the defeat of Lord Strange, on the 
occasion just referred to, it must not be supposed that 
the whole of the inhabitants were hostile to the royal 
cause. On the contrary, only a few days after this 
encounter, a number of influential persons amongst 
the loyal party in that town invited his lordship to a 
public dinner, which he accepted; but while the 
entertainment was in progress, it was ascertained that 
Captain Holcroft and Captain Birch, at the head of 
the opposite forces, had entered the town. His 
lordship immediately left the banquetting room, and 
in a few moments, being at the head of upwards of 
four hundred of his troops, an engagement took place 
between the opposing parties, in the course of which 
a man named Percival was killed by the royalists, 
who had the best of the encounter. Having been so 
far successful at Manchester, his lordship extended 
his operations to other parts of the county, namely, 
to Preston, Ormskirk, and Bury; and it would 
appear almost incredible, but is nevertheless un¬ 
doubtedly true, as we learn from several historical 
records, all in agreement with each other, that in each 
of these three towns, not less than 20,000 men came 
forward to support the King’s cause on the call of 




JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 47 

liis lordship, being 60,000 men altogether; and these 
men having been fully armed and made ready to take 
the field, his lordship set about raising a like number 
of men, if possible, in the county of Chester, and the 
neighbouring counties in North Wales. But an 
extraordinary communication, which mortified and 
wounded him much, had the effect of materially 
interfering with the execution of this project. The 
manner in which he was treated on this occasion 
evinced much ingratitude on the part of the council, 
which denounced what they called his “noisy 
musters,”—the “ pre-indication of his own ambitious 
designs,” and he was actually deprived of the lieu- 
tenancv of Chester and North Wales. At the same 
time he was informed that the King had determined 
to set up his standard at Nottingham, and this commu¬ 
nication was accompanied by one direct from the 
King, who desired him to push forward with as many 
troops as he could completely arm and equip. This 
intimation had a most depressing effect on his lord- 
ship, for it not only seriously interfered with his 
intentions and designs on behalf of the King, but it 
had also the effect of separating from him great 
numbers of those whom he had been able to collect 
on behalf of the royal cause in Preston, Ormskirk, 
and Bury, many of whom returned to their homes, 
determining to take no further part on the side of 
the King or of Parliament, whilst large bodies went 


48 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWS LEY. 


over to tlie side of tlie Parliamentary forces, and 
actually aided them in obtaining possession of Man¬ 
chester. It is not a little interesting, as showing his 
devotion to the King, in the face of these adverse 
circumstances, that he managed to raise and equip 
three regiments of cavalry, and three of foot; and 
having done so, he repaired to Shrewsbury, where 
the King was then staying, for the purpose of receiving 
his Majesty’s commands in regard to the forces which 
he had thus collected. His lordship’s interview with 
the King appears to have convinced his Majesty that 
his efforts to serve him did not deserve the treatment 
which he had received at the hands of the council. 
The King desired him to hurry back to the forces 
which he had collected, and to attack the town of 
Manchester by assault. Obeying his majesty’s instruc¬ 
tions he returned to Lancashire, and joined his forces, 
between four and five thousand in number, and having 
completed every preparation for an attack upon Man¬ 
chester, just about the time he was about to make it, 
he received two despatches which interfered with the 
carrying out of his intentions, and which must not 
only have greatly discouraged him, but also have had 
the effect of prejudicing the fortunes of the royal 
cause. He was suddenly ordered to march, with 
all his force, to Shrewsbury, in order to join the King’s 
army, which the Earl of Essex was there about to 
attack, with a large number of men. The same day 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 


49 


which brought him the despatches just referred to, also 
conveyed to him the intelligence of his father’s death, 
and his own elevation to the Earldom of Derby. To 
make matters still worse, and as if in order to add to 
the depression under which he must have been 
suffering by the two combined events to which we 
have adverted, the troops which he had collected were, 
on their arrival at Shrewsbury, placed under the 
command of others, whilst he himself was requested 
again to go into Lancashire in order to raise still 
further forces amongst a community which now 
looked upon the royal cause with a considerable 
amount of disfavour, even if it was not to a great extent 
actually hostile to it, in consequence of the manner in 
which the men already raised in that county by the 
Earl had been disposed. 

Notwithstanding the disadvantageous position in 
which the royal cause was now placed in Lancashire, 
the Earl succeeded in taking the towns of Lancaster 
and Preston, commanding the troops in person. 
Having secured the two last named towns, he had 
made arrangements for an attack on Manchester, 
in accordance with the directions of the King, when 
the men under his command were again sent for to 
join his majesty’s main army. Here was another 
disheartening exigency, calculated to dispirit the 
bravest or the most sanguine. But he was not 
thoroughly cast down. Seeing the necessities of his 


50 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


position, and that the cause of the King, in Lancashire, 
was now desperate, he determined to garrison Lathom 
House, and proceeded to do so. But his troubles and 
reverses were by no means at an end, for whilst 
engaged in the work of converting Lathom into a 
garrison, he was informed that the Isle of Man was 
about to be invaded by his enemies; and on receiving 
this intelligence, he at once determined on leaving 
England, for the purpose of defending and protecting 
his own kingdom of Man, leaving the defence of his 
mansion at Lathom, as well as the protection and 
keeping of his children to his noble and brave 
Countess, who, as will be seen from the sequel, 
displayed a heroism and devotion which has perhaps, 
scarcely a parallel in the history of ancient or modern 
times. 

The fortifying and defence of Lathom House by 
his Countess, forms one of the most memorable events 
in “ the great Stanley’s” chequered career. Immediately 
on the Earl sailing for the Island, the Countess re¬ 
paired to Lathom House for the purpose of superin¬ 
tending its fortification and defence. There can be no 
doubt that the opponents of the Earl, on his lordship 
leaving England, at once decided upon measures for 
crippling and harassing him in his absence, for he 
had scarcely left the shores of this country before the 
Countess was apprised of the intention of the leaders 
of the opposite forces to make an attack on the family 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 51 

mansion. With a vigour and resolution which 
characterized her entire conduct during the whole of 
this period, she adopted measures for making her 
position invulnerable. With this object, in addition 
to increasing the strength of her garrison, and augment¬ 
ing her provisions and military stores, she adopted 
the wise and far-seeing precaution of taking under her 
protection and care, a considerable number of the 
middle and lower classes, upon whose devotion and 
loyalty she could rely; and these parties so admitted 
into her confidence, formed a portion of her 
household, along with the servants of the family. 
Including these, and the troops in the service, which 
had been admitted within the garrison at Lathom, she 
had at her disposal a force of six regiments, having at 
the head of each a captain. These were selected from 
gentlemen of the county, who had volunteered to serve 
in the royal cause. They were, respectively, Captains 
Ogle, Chisenhall, Molyneux, Farington, Eawstorne, and 
Charnock; the command of the whole being entrusted 
to a brave officer, Major Farmer, a Scot. The Countess, 
and the officers in her confidence, had made these 
formidable preparations for the defence of the mansion, 
in so silent and reserved a manner that no one beyond 
its confines had the faintest notion that such a power¬ 
ful force was ready to defend it. It was on the 28th 
of February, 1644, that the attacking party, headed by 
Fairfax, made their appearance, and when within a 


52 


THE STANLEYS OF IvNOWSLEY. 


short distance from the mansion, Fairfax sent a 
trumpet, asking for a conference with the Countess, to 
which she consented ; but the record of the siege says 
that, in the meantime, “ in order to make the best 
“ show she could, she placed her inefficient and 
“ unarmed men on the walls and tops of the towers, 
“ and marshalled all the soldiers in good order, with 
“ their respective officers, from the main guard in the 
“ first court to the hall,” and this having been effected, 
the interview took place. During the time it lasted, 
Fairfax offered her a removal to, and undisturbed 
residence at Knowsley, together with a moiety of the 
Earl’s estate for the benefit of herself and family, if she 
woidd surrender the garrison. Her answer was as 
concise as it was significant. She said that “ she was 
“ under a double trust—faith to her husband and 
“ allegiance to her sovereign;” she added, that she 
desired a month to give her final reply, her object 
evidently being to communicate with the Earl, but 
Fairfax would not consent, on which the inflexible 
Countess said, “ I hope, then, you will excuse me 
"if I preserve my honour and obedience, though, 
“ perhaps, to my own ruin.” The interview between 
the two having thus ended, and Fairfax having doubt¬ 
less satisfied himself that he had a truly noble and heroic 
opponent to deal with, took his departure, hesitating 
for some time as to whether he would lay siege to the 
place or take it by storm. He was made to believe, by 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 53 

a statement conveyed by a Mr. Rutter, one of the Earl’s 
chaplains, to an officer of Fairfax’s with whom lie had 
a conversation, that the military force of the garrison 
was strong, but that they were short of provisions, and 
could not hold out for many days. Fairfax, on 
receiving this inaccurate intelligence, which, it should 
be stated, was purposely given, decided on not 
making an immediate assault, but on calling on the 
garrison to surrender, and at the expiration of a fort¬ 
night, in military terms demanded it. The reply of the 
Countess, prompt and conclusive, was as follows:— “ I 
“ have not yet forgotten what I owe to my Prince, and 
“ to my Lord, and until I have lost my honour or my 
“ life, I will defend this place.” 

In a few days after this interview the siege 
commenced, by Fairfax beginning to form trenches, 
when the Countess, who was in an elevated position, 
personally directing the defenders of the mansion, 
ordered a sallv of two hundred men, when 
upwards of sixty of the enemy were killed, the 
Countess only losing two. Although the besiegers 
doubled their guard, and considerably withdrew 
their lines on meeting with this first disaster, 
the sallies from the defenders of the mansion were so 
continuous and effective, that upwards of three months 
had elapsed before their trenches were completed. 
Having effected this object, however, the large moat 
by which the house was surrounded was at length 


54 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


approached, the besiegers then mounting a strong' 
battery besides an immense mortar. These formidable 
preparations for attack having been made, the Countess 
and her children were one day at dinner, when a shell 
from this mortar fell into the very apartment in which 
they were seated. A writer of the history of the seige 
says, “ the mortar piece was that which troubled us 
“ all. The little ladies had stomachs to digest cannon, 
“ but the stoutest soldiers had no hearts for grenadoes.” 
It was a providential circumstance that neither the 
Countess nor any of the children were injured. It 
was at this point in the siege that the Countess exhi¬ 
bited an amount of heroism and bravery unexampled, 
perhaps, in the history of woman, if indeed, ever 
equalled by man. Xo sooner had she recovered from 
the surprise caused by this shell than the Countess 
directed another sally, when some of the guns of 
the enemy were spiked, whilst others were thrown 
into the moat, with the exception of the mortar 
which sent the shell, from the effects of which she 
and her children escaped. This shell was secured 
and triumphantly conveyed into the mansion. The 
enemy now began to repair their works, in doing 
which they were occupied for several days, but the 
garrison, on successive occasions, destroyed them 
again as soon as they were completed, the defence of 
the mansion being most gallantly sustained. In the 
engagements which took place at this time, between 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 


55 


the besiegers and the defenders of the mansion, 
upwards of one hundred of Fairfax’s soldiers were 
killed, whilst their cannon were again spiked, the 
defenders losing only three men, with six or eight 
wounded. Prayer, by the defenders of the mansion, 
was offered up before every encounter, and thanks¬ 
givings invariably followed every success. In all or 
most of the engagements the Countess was present, 
directing the action of the troops, irrespective of her 
commander and officers, and the boldness which she 
displayed placed her in daily peril of her life. 

Down to the present time the results had been 
clearly in favour of the defenders of the garrison, for * 
the besiegers had already lost upwards of two 
thousand men. Whether or not Fairfax had lost all 
confidence in his commanding officer, by reason of the 
reverses which the attacking party had sustained, we 
cannot pretend to say, but certain it is that he 
removed him, and appointed in his stead one 
Colonel Pigby, a man who was deadly hostile to the 
Earl personally, and the circumstances in connection 
therewith were well known to the Countess. Pigby 
had not long been at the head of the assailants before 
he called upon the Countess, in coarse and insulting- 
terms, to surrender. Her instant reply was no less 
withering than characteristic. On receiving the 
offensive summons, she at once called out, “ Trumpet, 

“ tell that insolent rebel Pigby, that if he presumes to 


56 


THE STANLEYS OF KN OWSLEY. 


“ send another summons within this place, I will 
“ have the messenger hanged up at the gates/’ The 
condition of the besieged was, however, now becoming 
daily worse, and one of much privation, for not only 
was their ammunition almost exhausted by the 
prolongation of the siege, but their corn and provisions 
also were nearly all consumed. Such, indeed were 
their necessities, that they had been reduced to the 
extremity of having had to slaughter a considerable 
number of their horses for food. But even, discourag¬ 
ing as their prospects now looked, they did not allow 
their spirits entirely to fall, as will be seen from the 
following extract from a description of the siege, 
'written in the interest of the besieged:—“ blow neither 
“ ditches nor aught else troubled our soldiers, their 
“ grand terror, the mortar piece, which had frightened 
“ them from their meat and sleep, lying like a dead 
“ lion, cpiietly among them; every one had his eye and 
“his foot upon it, shouting and rejoicing as merrily as 
“ they used to do with their ale and bagpipes. . . . 

“ Mr. Rigby’s spirit being laid within our circle, we 
“were scarcely sensible of a siege, except by the 
“ restraint upon our liberty. But our men continually 
“ vexed their quiet, either by the excursion of a few in 
“ the night, or by frequent alarms which the captains 
“gave the soldiers leave to invent and exercise for 
“ their recreation. Sometimes, in spite of their perdues, 
“ they would steal a cord round some tree near the 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 57 

“ enemy’s works, and, bringing tlie end round, would 
“ make it terrible with many ranks and files of light 
“ matches ; sometimes dogs, and once a forlorn horse, 
“ handsomely starred with matches, being turned out of 
“ the gate, appeared in the dark night like some huge 
“ constellation! ” Bigby ultimately raised the siege, 
after the disastrous losses which he had sustained, on 
the 27th of May, 1644, under the following circum¬ 
stances. The Earl having heard of the straits to which 
his Countess and her followers had been reduced, by the 
prolongation of the attack, came over from the Isle of 
Man, with the view of obtaining further assistance 
for the continued defence of Lathom. This assistance 
was extended to him by Prince Bupert; and Bigby, 
on hearing of it fled with his troops to Bolton. 
Thus was brought to a close, the first attack on Lathom 
House, which for a period of three months was 
defended by a brave and noble hearted woman, in a 
manner which will hand down her name to all 
posterity as one of the most devoted, large hearted, 
and heroic of her sex. 

Bigby and his army of besiegers having thus 
withdrawn themselves from Lathom, and taken 
possession of Bolton, the Earl followed Prince Bupert, 
who, with a large army, was before the last-named 
town, “being,” we are told, “truly happy of an 
“ occasion to fight with the merciless besiegers of 
“a princess in misery, and forthwith, with all 


58 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ gallantry and resolution led on his men to an assault.’' 
Tlie siege of Bolton took place on the 28th of May, 
1644, and on the Earl of Derby arriving at the scene 
of action, he desired Prince Pupert to place two 
companies under his command, expressing his fears 
that the town would be again besieged if the Prince, 
with his army, left. The Prince was at first disinclined 
to comply with the Earl’s request, in consequence of 
the hazardous nature of the undertaking proposed by 
him; but the latter pressed it, stating that he would 
lead the van, and that “ he would either enter the 
the town or leave his body in the ditch.” Prince 
Eupert ultimately complied with the Earl’s wishes, 
and the latter, with 200 men, marched to the walls, 
and after a quarter of an hour’s desperate fighting, 
took the town, the Earl being at the head of his men, 
and the first to enter. Eigby himself made a pre¬ 
cipitate retreat, leaving 2000 men behind him, most 
of whom were slain. All the colours taken were 
sent to Lathom House, where they remained, as 
trophies of victory, up to the time when the vener¬ 
able mansion was destroyed by the rebels. One of 
the historians of the siege says that “the Earl 
“of Derby desiring to be one of the first avengers 
“of that barbarity and cruelty displayed to his 
“lady, with a part of the prince’s own horse, 
“ charged a troop of the enemy, which had bravely 
“issued out of the town to disorder and vex our 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 59 

“fort in tlie assault. These lie chased to the very 
“ walls, where he slew the cornet, and with his own 
“ hand took the colours, being the first ensign taken 
“ that day, and which he sent to his highness.” 

We must here digress a little for the purpose of 
showing the ultimate fate and disposal of Lathom. 
We have just spoken of the first attack or siege. 
After this siege it appears that Lathom House was 
placed in charge of Colonel Bawstorne, who supplied 
the garrison with provisions and ammunition for 
sustaining another siege. In July, 1645, the siege 
was renewed by General Egerton, who had 4000 
soldiers under his command. The General fixed 
upon Ormskirk as his head quarters. For a time the 
garrison resisted the besiegers, but at length, having 
no further ammunition, and, what was still worse, 
being disappointed in the expectation of a reinforce¬ 
ment from the king, who was then at Chester, the 
commander, we are told, was obliged to surrender 
Lathom House into the hands of the Parliamentary 
forces, “ upon bare terms of mercy.” At the time of 
the surrender, the mansion contained twelve pieces 
of ordnance, besides a large store of arms and ammu¬ 
nition. 

The besiegers soon converted the most valuable 
effects of the house into booty; the rich silk hangings 
of the beds were rent in pieces ; the towers from which 
so many fatal shots had proceeded were demolished. 


60 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


and the sun of Latliom seemed for ever to have set. 
The following somewhat amusing account of the 
surrender appears in a newspaper of the time, 
called the “ Perfect Diurnal.” In its publication of 
December 8, 1645, this paper says:—“ On Saturday, 
“ December 6, after the house was up, there came 
“letters to the speaker of the Commons’ House, of 
“ the surrender of Lathom House in Lancashire, be- 
“ longing to the Earl of Derby, which his lady, the 
“ Countess of Derby, proving herself the better soldier 
“of the two, hath above these two years kept in 
“ opposition to our forces.” We may here state under 
what circumstances Lathom House became the 
property of its present possessors. At the time of 
the Kestoration it again became the property of the 
Earl of Derby, but it had then been almost demolished, 
and the family resided at Ivnowsley. It was the 
intention of the ninth Earl, William Eichard George, 
to have re-built it, and he had commenced the work, 
but died before its completion. At the time of his 
death, however, he had erected what composes a 
part of the south front of the present house. On the 
Earl’s death it became the property of his eldest 
daughter, Henrietta, who was twice married, first 
to the Earl of Anglesey, and secondly to Lord 
Ashburnham. The last-named nobleman disposed 
of it to Henry Furnese, Escp, who again sold it, in 
the year 1724, to Sir Thomas Bootle, Knight, of 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 61 

Melling, in Lancashire. Subsequently, Sir Thomas’s 
neice and heiress was married to Pochard Wil- 
braham, Esq., of Kode Hall, in Cheshire, and by this 
marriage it came into the possession of the 
Skelmersdale family, the first Lord Skelmersdale 
being the eldest son of the marriage. It is not a 
little remarkable that through marriage, Lathom 
House is again associated with the Derby family, 
the present Countess of Derby, who was the 
Hon. Miss Wilbraham, being a daughter of the 
first Lord Skelmersdale. We read that during 
the time of those historic periods, when it was the 
residence of the Earls of Derby, Lathom House, 
“ for magnificence and hospitality, surpassed all the 
“ residences of the north, assuming, in those respects, 
“ the attitude of a royal court, and its possessions 
“were regarded with such veneration and esteem, 
“ that the following harmless inversion was ‘familiar as 
“household words’: ‘ God save the Earl of Derby and 
“ the King.’ ” 

We now, after this digression, return to our 
narrative. After the raising of the siege of Lathom, 
the Earl, accompanied by his Countess, returned to 
the Isle of Man, followed by a considerable number 
of royalists of England, who, “wearied with being 
“so often awakened at midnight with the King’s 
“ and Parliament’s troops, both equally feared, because 
“equally plundering,” quitted their native country, 


62 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


in order to pass life in quiet and retirement along 
with the Earl. “ Some too/’ we are told, “ who had 
“ served with the Earl in his battles, and been invalided 
“ through wounds, betook themselves with him, to this 
“ sanitorium.” Amongst them was Captain Edward 
Halsall, wounded in the siege of Lathom House, of 
which he lias left an account; and Major Blundell, of 
Crosby, whose thigh had been shattered by a musket 
ball on the taking of Lancaster. Fairfax, shortly 
after this period, behaved in a disgracefully treacherous 
manner to the Earl, who was anxious to have his 
children sent to England for their education. Fairfax 
had given the Earl an assurance that his children 
should be safe; but, notwithstanding this promise, they 
were seized, whilst travelling in England, by an order 
of the House of Commons, and confined as prisoners 
in Liverpool. During the time his children were so 
detained, the Parliament, through Fairfax, tempted him 
to forsake the cause of his royal master, by giving up 
possession of the Isle of Man, offering, if he would do 
so, to restore to him his children, as well as the 
whole of his estates, but they could not shake his 
loyality and devotion to the King, for he firmly 
replied “ That he was greatly afflicted at the sufferings 
“ and miseries of his children; that it was not in the 
“ nature of great and noble minds to punish innocent 
“ children for the offences of their parents; that- it 
“ would be a clemency in Sir Thomas Fairfax either 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 63 

“to send them hack to him, or to their mother’s 
“friends in France and Holland ; hut if he would do 
“ neither, his children must submit to the mercy of 
“ Almighty God, hut should never he released hy his 
“ disloyalty.” His devotion to the King was resented, 
on the part of Parliament, hy the. sequestration of his 
estates, and the continued imprisonment of his children. 
The attempt to shake his loyalty was on more than 
one occasion renewed, and after the execution of the 
King, the Parliament endeavoured to weaken the 
allegiance of the Manx people towards the Earl, and, 
as more than one historian says, even went so far as 
to plot against the lives of the Earl and his family. 
Charles the Second w T as then an exile in Prance, 
hut the Earl acknowledged no authority over him— 
recognised no one hut Charles as his sovereign. 
At length, in June, 1649, the Parliament, through 
General Ireton, again offered to restore all his English 
estates, together with his children, if he would 
surrender his right and sovereignty of the Isle of Man, 
when he again indignantly refused to entertain the 
proposal, and sent Ireton the following reply:— 

“Castletown, Isle of Man, 12tli July, 1649. 

“ Sir—I received your letter with indignation, and 
“ with scorn return you this answer; that I cannot hut 
“ wonder where you should gather any hopes from me 
“that I should, like you, prove treacherous to my 
“ sovereign, since you cannot hut he sensible of 


64 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ my former actings in his late Majesty's service, from 
“ which principle of loyalty I am in no whit separated. 
“ I scorn your proffers, disdain your favor, and abhor 
“ your treason; and am so far from delivering up this 
“ Island to your advantage, that I will keep it, to the 
“ utmost of my power, to your destruction. Take this 
“ for your final answer, and forbear any further solici- 
“ tation, for if you trouble me with any more messages 
“ on this occasion, I will burn the paper and hang the 
“ bearer. This is the immutable resolution, and shall 
“ be the undoubted practice of him who accounts it liis 
“ cliiefest glory to be, 

“ His Majesty’s most loyal and obedient servant, 

“ Derby." 

During the stay of the Earl and his Countess in the 
Isle of Man, after leaving England on the siege of 
Lathom being raised, he kept up a series of brilliant 
courts at Paishen Castle, where he, to a great extent, 
resided, and at Christmas, 1644, he held a splendid 
festival or carnival, which is thus graphically 
described:—“ The right honourable James, Earl of 
“ Derby, and his right honourable Countess, on the 
“ last day in Christmas, invited all the Officers, 
“ spiritual and temporal, the Clergy, the twenty-four 
“ Keys of the Isle, the Coroners, with all their wives, 
“ and likewise the best sort of the inhabitants of the 
“ Isle; when the right honourable Charles, Lord 
“ Strange, with his train, the right honourable Ladies 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 


65 


“ with tlieir attendants, were most gloriously decked 
“ with silver and gold broidered works, and most costly 
“ ornaments, bracelets on their hands, chains on their 
“ necks, jewels on their foreheads, ear-rings in their 
“ ears, and crowns on their heads. And after the mask 
“ to a feast, which was most royal and plentiful, with 
“ shooting of ordnance.” It appears that at this 
pageant, the Countess was the “ cynosure of all 
observers,” and elicited the warmest admiration of the 
assembled guests, who were eulogistic of her brave and 
heroic deeds and valour in the defence of Lathom 
House. Whilst the Earl was now residing in his 
territory of the Isle of Man, it was suspected that there 
were several parties in the island, who were secretly 
plotting against the Earl, and in league with the 
Parliamentary agents in England. Amongst the 
persons so suspected were William and Edward 
Christian, who held an influential position in the 
island, and for several years past had professed 
the warmest attachment to the Earl and his family. 
It is supposed that the Earl had a strong belief, from 
circumstances which had come to his knowledge, that 
the Christians were disaffected towards him, but his 
lordship did not allow his suspicions to be generally 
known, nor did he in any way so deport himself 
towards the Christians as to induce the latter to believe 
that treachery was imputed to them; but the following 
extracts from his lordship’s own remarks and observa- 


66 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


tions, in reference to those present at the Christmas 
carnival, show that he was a close judge of cha¬ 
racter, and could readily distinguish the difference 
between a real and a feigned homage offered to him. 
The Christians were present at the festival, and in 
speaking of the company the Earl significantly and 
satirically remarks, “ I observed much the counten- 
“ ances of those who bid me welcome, and the eyes are 
“ often glass windows through which you may see the 
“ heart; and although I will not presently censure by 
“ the look, yet will I neither neglect some judgment 
“ thereof; so it is that your eyes must be ever open to 
“ see each other’s eyes, their countenances and actions ; 
“ your ears must listen to all what is said, even what 
“ is whispered. For to this end, God has given us two 
“ eyes and two ears. So also you have but one tongue, 
“ to the end you speak not much, for speaking much 
“ you are sure to say something vain. I never knew 
“ a prattler without repentance.” From this extract 
it is tolerably obvious that the Earl must have been 
more than ordinarily observant of his guests on the 
night of the festival, which the circumstances of the 
times, in connection with what afterwards took place 
in the island, amply justified. We may here state 
that his lordship’s suspicions, at this period, are 
supposed to have been directed towards Captain 
Edward Christian, who, after professing the greatest 
attachment to the Earl, when lie (Christian) first took 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 


67 


lip Iris residence in the island, was subsequently found 
plotting the ruin and downfall of his lordship, and 
was in close league with the Covenanters and Round- 
heads who came over to the island from England and 
Scotland, for the purpose of spreading sedition among 
the Earl’s retainers and friends. There can he no 
doubt that the Earl had a formidable array of enemies 
in the island, more particularly among the Puritans, 
who condemned the Christmas festival, as will he seen 
from the following characteristic description of their 
feelings and opinions :— 

“ The more puritanically disposed expressed 
“ themselves as shocked at the pomp and pride of the 
“ Earl and his family, the vain earthly show by which 
“ they were surrounded, the levity of the conversation, 
“ the prodigality and wealth of the feast, which might 
“ have supplied the wants of so many families of the 
“ poor peasants scattered over the mountains and 
“ heaths of the Isle of Man. Well might the Earl, 
“ they said, seek to rob the people of the rights of 
“ their ancient treasures, in order to get heavier rents 
“ to support so much extravagance. But a day was 
“ coming, when the groans of the oppressed would 
“ go up to heaven, and bring down judgment on the 
“ pride of Derby and all the malignants associated 
“ with him, in his ungodly revels. And what would 
“ the priests of Baal do when their idol was cast down, 
“ and righteousness exalted in the land ? Those 


68 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ worldly-minded pastors, who had neglected their flocks 
“ scattered in the wilderness, to come and join tliem- 
“ selves in rioting and drunkenness with the servants 
“ of Mammon, the profane followers of that Popish 
“ Countess, who kept Jesuits in her house, and had 
“ dared to defy the armies of the Lord, under that 
“ godly man, Rigby, and had slain the supporters of the 
“ Solemn League and Covenant.” 

The Earl and his family continued to reside in 
the Isle of Man for several years longer, but it is 
quite clear that he never ceased to entertain the hope 
and desire to overthrow the Parliament, and restore 
Charles the Second to the throne. In the year 1648, it 
was obvious that a project was entertained by the 
Parliament to seize upon the King, and in order to 
take part in the struggle on the side of his majesty 
and the Royalists, the Earl made arrangements to 
leave the island for England. He had during his 
residence in the island, taken a lively interest in its 
social and political condition, and the well-being of 
those around him ; and although there had on several 
occasions been manifestations of discontent in several 
quarters on the ground of alleged undue imposts 
levied by the Earl on the inhabitants, it is abundantly 
clear that he was always anxious to redress their 
grievances, and the following letter shows the good 
feeling which existed between the Earl and his Manx 
subjects:— 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 


69 


“ Oct. 28th; 1648. 

“ Sir,—I am not very sure whether I can he at 
“ the next Head Court at Castletown, but, however, I 
“ think good to advertise you of my desire, which is by 
“ your mouth, to thank my officers and the twenty-four 
“ keys for that free gift in money which they so readily 
“bestowed on me in my late intended journey to 
“ England ; that failing, I have (as all know) returned 
“ back the money, which, though I was willing to part 
“ with all, yet shall I never part with the remembrance 
“ of that love from which it came, and 1 heartily rejoice 
“ that thereby I find myself so well seated in the 
“ affections of this people, whose good and profit, I take 
“ God to witness, I shall ever study to advance. 

“ 1 am, therefore, upon these considerations, en- 
“ couraged to let them know my present occasion in 
“ these necessitous times ; for the supply of which I 
“would by no means keep that which was given me, 
“ but would rather choose to try the same affections 
“ once again, in the way of a loan, the sum of five 
“ hundred pounds, which I do hereby faithfully promise 
“ to repay, so soon as it shall please God to restore me 
“ to my estate in England; and I trust that by my 
“ return of the same affection back again unto them, 
“ whenever I shallhave occasion to express it, they shall 
“ find they have laid up their money in a good hand, to 
“ receive it again with many other advantages. This I 


70 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ clo desire you, together with my love, to recommend 
“ imto them, and so I rest. 

“ Your very loving friend, 
“J. Derby. 

“ From Bishop’s Court, 

“ For tlie Governor of Castletown, there.” 

The intention, however, to seize the King, was not 
carried out, and the Earl remained in the Isle of Man 
until the year 1651. It was in January of that year, 
that Charles the Second was crowned at Scone, 
swearing to observe the Solemn League and Covenant. 
In April following he was at the head of an army in 
Scotland. During the summer he advanced into 
England, and in the month of August he arrived at 
Warrington, heading a numerous body of forces, which 
consisted of 14,000 men. Thence he proceeded through 
Cheshire and Shropshire, to Worcester, where, on the 
22nd of August, he was proclaimed King. He then in¬ 
vited the English Royalists to aid and support him with 
all the forces they could raise, and, amongst others, he 
summoned the Earl of Derby, who at once left the 
Isle of Man to join his sovereign, leaving his Countess 
and three of his children in the care of Illiam Dlione, 
the Receiver-General of the Island. He took with 
him, from the island, a force of 300 Royalists, inclu¬ 
ding his favourite governor, John Greenalgli, who 
was accounted a hold and daring soldier in the field. 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 71 

On tlie arrival of the Earl in England he had a con¬ 
ference with Major-General Massey, at "Warrington, 
the King, who had gone south, having left the major 
to receive and confer with his lordship. On meeting 
Major General Massey, the Earl was somewhat as¬ 
tonished at the demand made upon him by the major. 
The latter had brought with him a number of Presby¬ 
terian ministers, who, to the surprise and disgust of 
his lordship, called upon him not only to swear alle¬ 
giance to the Solemn League and Covenant, hut like¬ 
wise demanded that he should “ dismiss all the Papists 
whom he had brought over with him.” The Earl, 
being by no means disposed to submit to the conditions 
thus sought to be imposed upon him, replied that “ on 
“ these terms he might long since have been restored to 
“ his whole estate, and that blessed martyr Charles the 
“ First to all his kingdom—that he came not to dispute 
“ on religion, but to fight for his Majesty’s Kestoration.” 
But the Presbyterian ministers insisted on their 
terms being complied with, when the Earl exclaimed, 
“ If I perish, I perish, but if my master suffer, the 
“ blood of another prince and all the ensuing miseries 
“ of the nation will lie at your doors.” The Earl then 
proceeded to Preston, having only 800 troops in all, 
including the 300 which he had brought over with him 
from the Isle of Man. With this weak force he 
advanced, on the 25th of August, to Wigan, with the 
intention of taking up his quarters there. Here, 


72 


THE STANLEYS OF KXOWSLEY. 


however, lie was unexpectedly attacked the next day, 
by Colonel Lilburn, who was at the head of an over¬ 
whelming force of 3000 horse and foot, 1800 being 
dragoons, whom Cromwell had sent to hang upon 
the King’s rear. This was the occasion of the well- 
known battle of Wigan Lane. It will easily be 
believed that in this fearfully unequal conflict the 
Earl and his little army were worsted, but notwith¬ 
standing the immense odds against him, he fought 
for two hours, performing prodigies of valour, and 
receiving, in this sanguinary engagement, seven shots 
in his breastplate, thirteen cuts in bis beaver, five or 
six wounds on his arms and shoulders, and had two 
horses killed under him. It is little less than mira¬ 
culous, that twice he dashed through the whole body 
of the enemy, and on making a third attempt, was 
overwhelmed with numbers, several of the officers of 
his force, including Lord Witlierington, Sir Thomas 
Tyldesley, and other gentlemen being killed. The 
Earl, having succeeded in mounting a third horse, 
fought his way through the ranks of the enemy, 
in company with his faithful Governor Greenalgh, 
and five other officers. One of the historians of the 
battle of Wigan Lane, says, describing his lordship’s 
escape, that “ in this third charge, upon the fall of 
“ Lord Witlierington, his lordship mounted his horse, 
“ and being seconded by six gentlemen of the party, he, 
“ with them, fought his way through a great body of 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 73 

“ the enemy, into the town; where his lordship, quit- 
“ ting his horse, leapt in at a door, that stood open, 
“ and, suddenly shutting it before the enemy could 
“ reach it, the woman of the house* kept it shut so 
“long till his lordship was conveyed to a place of 
“ privacy, where he lay concealed for many hours, 
“ notwithstanding the most industrious search of 
“ the enemy.” Having at length made his escape, 
he passed through Shropshire and Staffordshire, to 
Boscobel House, and finally reached the King at 
Worcester, where he joined his Majesty in time to 
take part in the fatal battle of Worcester, which was 
fought on the 3rd of September, only eight days 
after the deadly engagement at Wigan, his wounds 
yet bleeding and green. At the close of this battle, 
he conducted the King with great skill and secresy, 
through St. Martin’s Gate, to the celebrated retreats 
of Whiteladies and Boscobel, where he himself had 
stayed only the day before, on his way to the battle. 
This was the last time he ever saw his Majesty, for 
fate had decreed that in a few short weeks afterwards 
the loyal and devoted Earl’s life was to be sacrificed 
on the scaffold. On taking leave of the King, accom- 

* This house was then, and for several years afterwards, “ The 
Dog” public house, in which there was a brass plate with the arms 
of Man upon it, round which was the inscription “ Honi soit qui mal 
y pense,” with an intimation that that was the house into which 
Lord Derby fled, and that the room in which his lordship was con- 
-cealed, was afterwards called “ Bceston Castle.” 


74 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


panied by from forty to fifty of bis followers, lie was 
returning with all possible speed to his own county, 
when, just as he entered Cheshire, he was attacked 
by a regiment of foot and a troop of horse, under the 
command of Major Edge, to whom he surrendered on 
a promise of quarter for life; but these terms of sur¬ 
render were most infamously violated, at the imme¬ 
diate instance, as was subsequently proved, of Brad¬ 
shaw, Bigby, and Birch, who were notoriously three 
of the Earl’s bitterest personal enemies. These three 
having represented to Cromwell, that the well-being 
and peace of the Commonwealth rendered it unsafe 
for the Earl to be allowed to live, the Parliament 
sent down a commission to nineteen persons in 
Cheshire, to try the Earl on a charge of high treason. 
This commission was composed of five Colonels, 
three Lieutenant-Colonels, and eleven Captains, all 
well known to be hostile to Derby, and the “ trial ” 
may simply be pronounced a mockery. In vain did 
the Earl urge the “ quarter for life ” extended to him 
by Major Edge, on his surrender, as a reason against 
his being tried for life. He was condemned to death, 
and directed to be executed in four days, in his own 
town of Bolton, the latter portion of the sentence 
more especially showing the heartless and wicked 
animus by wdiich his judges were actuated. After 
sentence had been passed, the Earl’s son, Charles, re¬ 
paired to London with all possible speed, in order to 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 


75 


lay his father’s case before Parliament, and to petition 
for a delay in carrying out the sentence, but Crom¬ 
well, by an act which will for ever remain as 
an indelible blot on his character and memory, pre¬ 
vented the application from being successful. The 
facts having been laid before the House, Cromwell 
saw that a majority of the members were inclined to 
vote for the execution being, at least, delayed, and on 
the Speaker putting the question he resorted to the 
questionable expedient of leaving the House, accom¬ 
panied by eight or nine members whom he had 
induced to follow him, and by this discreditable 
proceeding reduced the number of members present 
to under forty. The House being thus counted out, the 
praiseworthy efforts of Lord Strange to save his 
father’s life failed. An occurrence, however, took 
place on the day of his trial which nearly resulted in 
his persecutors being baffled in their deadly and 
murderous intentions. On the night of Saturday, 
October 11th, he managed to get on to the leads of 
the tower in which he was confined in Chester Castle. 
Whilst he was on the top of these leads, a rope was 
thrown up to him from the exterior of the Castle, and 
having succeeded in securing it, he descended in 
safety, and made his way to the banks of the Dee, 
where a boat was in readiness to take him away, but 
here he was again tracked by the officers in charge, 
and conveyed back to the Castle, where he remained 


76 


THE STANLEYS OF KXOWSLEY. 


until Tuesday, the 14th, the day before his execution, 
when he was taken to Leigh, and from that town to 
Bolton. Just before he left Chester Castle for Leigh, 
on the 14th of October, two of his daughters, Lady 
Catherine and Lady Amelia, who had been staying in 
Chester, had their last interview with him. Whilst 
lie was in Chester Castle, after his condemnation, he 
wrote two beautiful letters to his wife, and one to 
his children in the Isle of Man. These letters were 
entrusted to the Lev. Humphrey Bagaley, who was 
permitted to attend him to the last, and who has 
written a ton chine: narrative of the last hours of his 

O 

life. His letters to his family, and his last utterances 
on the scaffold, “ display,” says Lodge, “ one of the 
“ purest examples extant of the courage of a soldier, 
“ the patience of a philosopher, and the piety of a 
“ Christian.” The following is the letter written to his 
Countess, on Sunday the 12tli, the day after his trial, 
and perhaps a more truly affectionate communication 
was never penned :— 

“ My Dear Heart,—I have heretofore sent you 
“ comfortable lines, but alas, I have now no word of 
“ comfort saving to our last and best refuge, which is 
“ Almighty God, to whose will we must submit; and 
“ when we consider how he hath disposed of these 
“ nations, and the government thereof, we have no 
<( more to do than lay our hands upon our mouths, 
“ judging ourselves and acknowledging our sins, joined 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 77 

“ with others to have been the cause of these miseries, 
,c and to call on him with tears for mercy. The 
e: Governor of this place, Colonel Duckenfield,is General 
“ of the forces which are now going against the Isle 
“ of Man ; and however you might do for the present, 
“ in time it would he a grievous and troublesome thing 
“ to resist, especially those that at this hour command 
“ the three nations; wherefore, my advice, notwith- 
“ standing my great affection to that place, is that 
“ you would make conditions for yourself, and children, 
“ and servants, and people there, and such as came 
“ over with me, to the end you may get to some place 
“ of rest, where you may not be concerned in war, and, 
“ taking thought of your poor children, you may in 
“ some sort provide for them : then prepare yourself 
“ to come to your friends above, in that blessed place 
“ where bliss is, and no mingling of opinion. I 
“ conjure you, my dearest heart, by all those graces 
“ that God hath given you, that you exercise your 
“ patience in this great and strange trial. If harm 
“ come to you, then I am dead indeed; and until then 
“ I shall live in you, who are truly the best part of 
“ myself. When there is no such thing as I, in being, 
“ then look upon yourself and my poor children ; then 
“ take comfort, and God will bless you. I acknowledge 
“ the great goodness of God to have given me such a 
“ wife as you—so great an honour to my family—so 
“ excellent a companion to me—so pious—so much of 


78 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ all that can he said of good, I must confess it irnpos- 
“ sihle to say enough thereof. I ask God pardon with 
“ all my soul that I have not been enough thankful 
“ for so great a benefit; and when I have done any- 
“ thing at any time that might justly offend you, with 
“joined hands I also ask you pardon. I have no 
“ more to say to you at this time than my prayers for 
“the Almighty blessing to you, my dear Mall, and 
“ Ned, and Billy (his children). Amen; sweet Jesus!” 

He also wrote her another letter, couched in the 
same affectionate language as the foregoing, and again 
alluding to her position in the island. This letter 
concludes as follows :— 

“You know how much that place (the Isle of 
“ Man) is my darling; but, since it is God’s will to 
“ dispose, in the manner it is, of this nation, and 
“ Ireland too, there is nothing further to be said of the 
“ Isle of Man, but to refer all to the will of God, and 
“ to procure the best conditions you can for yourself 
“ and our poor family and friends there, and those 
“ that came over with me; and so trusting in the 
“assistance and goodness of God, begin the world 
“ again, though near winter, whose cold and piercing 
“ blasts are much more tolerable than the malicious 
“ approaches of a poisoned serpent, or an inveterate and 
“ malign enemy, from whose powers the Lord of Heaven 
“ bless and preserve you; God Almighty comfort you 
“ and my poor children; and the Son of God, whose blood 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 


79 


<c was shed for our good, preserve your lives, that by 
“ the good will and mercy of God we may meet once 
“ more upon earth, and last in the kingdom of heaven, 
“where we shall be for ever free from all rapine, 
“ plunder, and violence; and so I rest everlastingly, 

“ Your most faithful, 

“ Derby.” 

And in his letter to his children, he enjoins them 
to obey their mother with all cheerfulness, and not 
to grieve her, adding “ for she is your example, your 
“ nursery, your counsellor, your all under Godthere 
“ never was, nor never can be, a more deserving person.” 

The day appointed for his execution, the 15th of 
October, his lordship arrived at Bolton, about mid¬ 
day, from Leigh, guarded by a millitary escort, con¬ 
sisting of two troops of cavalry, and a company of 
infantry. Intense sympathy was shewn towards his 
lordship, and it is scarcely too much to say that the 
whole town was in tears. Having alighted, he was 
taken to a house near the market cross, and accompa¬ 
nied by his friends and servants, he went into it, re¬ 
maining there until three o’clock in the afternoon, the 
time being occupied, to a great extent, in prayer, and in 
conversation as to the manner in which he had lived, 
and how he had prepared to die. “ The fear of death 
“ was no trouble to him, and his only care was for his 
“ wife and children; but he was satisfied to commit 


80 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWS LEY. 


“ them to God.” Soon after three o’clock he was at¬ 
tended to the scaffold, when he proceeded to deliver 
a lengthened address, which he had committed to 
writing, and which was as follows:— 

“ I come, and am content to die in this town, 
“ where I endeavoured to come the last time I was in 
“ Lancashire, and to a place where I persuaded myself 
“ to he welcome, in regard the peojde thereof have 
“ reason to he satisfied in my love and affection to 
“ them; and that now they understand sufficiently. I 
“ am no man of hlood, as some have falsely slandered 
“ me, especially in the killing of a captain in this 
“ town; whose death is now declared on oath, so as 
“ the time and place now appears under the hand of a 
“ master in chancery, besides the several attestations 
“ of a gentleman of honour in the kingdom, who was 
“in the fight in this town, and of others of good 
“ report, both in the town and country; and I am 
“ confident that there are some in this place who can 
“ witness my mercy and care, for sparing many men’s 
“ lives that day. 

“ As for my crime, (as some are pleased to call it,) 

‘ to come into this country with the King, I hope it 
“ desefves a better name; for I did it in obedience 
“to his call, whom I hold myself obliged to obey, 

“ according to the protestation I took in Parliament, in 
“ his father’s time. I confess I love monarchy, and 
“ I love my master, Charles, the second of that name. 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 


81 


“whom I myself proclaimed in this country to he 
“ King. The Lord bless him and preserve him; I 
“ assure you he is the most goodly, virtuous, valiant, 
“ and most discreet King that I know lives this day; 
“ and I wish so much happiness to this people after 
“ my death, that he may enjoy his right, and then 
“ they cannot want their rights. I profess here in the 
“ presence of God, I always fought for peace and I 
“ had no other reason, for I wanted neither means nor 
“ honours, nor did I seek to enlarge either. By my 
“ King’s predecessors mine were raised to a high con- 
“ dition, it is well known to the country ; and it is as 
“ well known that by his enemies I am condemned to 
“ suffer by new and unknown laws. The Lord send 
“ us our King again, and our old laws again, and the 
“ Lord send us our religion again. 

“ As for that which is practised now, it has no 
“ name ; and metliinks there is more talk of religion 
“ than any good effects of it. 

“ Truly, to me it seems I die for God, the King, 
“ and the laws, and this makes me not ashamed of my 
“ life, nor afraid of my death.” 

When his lordship made use of the words “ the 
“ King and the laws,” a trooper cried “ We have no 
“ King, and we will have no lords.” A fear of mutiny 
amongst the soldiers caused his lordship to be inter¬ 
rupted, at which some of the officers were troubled, 
and his friends much grieved, his lordship having 


82 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


freedom of speech promised him. His lordship seeing 
the troopers scattered in the streets, cutting and 
slashing the people with their swords,.. ^Md “ What’s 
“ the matter, gentlemen ? Where’s the guilt ? I fly 
“ not, and here is none to pursue you ? ” He then 
handed the paper to his servant, desiring him to let 
the world know the contents of the latter part of his 
intended speech, which were as follow:— 

“ My sentence (upon which I am brought hither), 
“ was by a Council of War; nothing in the captain’s 
“ case alleged against me; which Council, I had reason 
“ to expect, would have justified my plea for quarter, 
“ that being an ancient and honourable plea amongst 
“ soldiers, and not violated (that I know of) till this 
“ time that I am made the first suffering precedent, in 
“ this case. I wish no other to suffer in the like case. 
“ Now I must die, and am ready to die, I thank my 
“ God, with a good conscience, without any malice, 
“ on any ground whatever: though others would not 
“ find mercy upon me, upon just and fair grounds; 
“ so my Saviour prayed for His enemies, and so do 1 
“ for mine.” 

“ As for my faith, and my religion, thus much I 
“ have at this time to say: I profess my faith to be in 
“ Jesus Christ, who died for me, from whom I look 
“ for my salvation; that is, through His only merits 
“ and sufferings; and I die a dutiful son of the 
“ Church of England, as it was established in my late 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 


83 


“ master’s time and reign, and is yet professed in the 
“ Isle of Man, which is no little comfort to me.” 

“ I thank my God for the quiet of my conscience 
“ at this time, and the assurance of those joys that 
“ are prepared for those that fear Him. Good people, 
“ pray for me: I do for you. The God of Heaven 
“ bless you all, and send you peace; that God, that is 
“ truth itself, give you grace, peace, and truth. Amen.” 

A few moments before the execution took place, 
he desired that the block might be removed, so as 
to face the Church, and his request having been 
complied with, he said “ I will look towards Thy 
“ sanctuary while I am here, as I hope to live in Thy 
“ heavenly sanctuary for ever hereafter.” He then laid 
his head upon the block, and stretching out his arms, 
said, “ Blessed be God’s glorious name for ever and 
“ ever. Amen. Let the whole earth be filled with 
“His glory.” He then lifted up his hands as a 
signal for the executioner, but, apparently, not under¬ 
standing the Earl’s movement, he did not strike the 
blow; on which his lordship rose, and addressing 
him, said, “What have I done that I die not ? Well, 
“ I will lay myself down once again in peace, and I 
“hope I shall enjoy everlasting peace;” and then 
adding, in a loud tone, “ The Lord bless my wife and 
“ children, and the Lord bless us all,” he again gave 
the signal, when one blow from the headsman 
sufficed for his decapitation, and the great Stanley 


84 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


was sacrificed for devotion to his King, amidst the 
tears and sobs of a sympathising multitude. 

There is considerable diversity of opinion amongst 
historians, as to the time and circumstances under 
which the body was conveyed from Bolton to be buried. 
One authority says, “ On the following day, the re- 
“ mains of his lordship were conveyed from Bolton 
“ to Ormskirk, to be interred in the family vault of 
“ the house of Stanley,” whilst the author of “ A 
“ Discourse of the War in Lancashire,” says, “ with 
“ his clothes upon him, he was put into the coffin 
“ there readie, which had abundance of seeds in it, to 
“ receive the bloode, and he was carried away that 
“ night, to Wiggan, and from there to Ormskirke, to 
“ be buried amongst his ancestors.” Seacome, on the 
other hand says, “ his body was then taken up and 
“strict, as he had directed, and laid in his coffin.” 
When the body was put into the coffin to be carried 
to Ormskirk, the following lines, by an unknown 
hand, were thrown into it:— 

“Wit, bounty, courage, three here in one lie dead; 

“A Stanley’s hand, Vere’s heart, and Cecil’s head.” 

The deceased Earl had, by his Countess, Charles, 
his successor, besides two younger sons, who died in 
infancy. He had also four daughters, one of whom 
died young, the others being married to William 
Wentworth, second Earl of Stafford; Henry Pierre- 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 


85 


pont, Marquis of Dorchester; and John, Marquis of 
Athol. By this last marriage the Barony of Strange, 
by writ 1628, and the lordship of Man, were even¬ 
tually carried to James, Second Duke of Athol. 

As regards the unfortunate Countess, there are 
again several conflicting statements respecting her con¬ 
dition and fate; but it is admitted that Colonels Birch 
and Duckinfield, soon after the death of her husband, 
attacked the Isle of Man, when through the imputed 
treachery of William Christian—whom the Earl had 
cherished from his childhood, and to whom, at his 
final departure, he had committed the care of his 
lady and their offspring, as well as the command of 
the infantry of the island—the Countess and her 
children were betrayed into the hands of their ene¬ 
mies. Seacome, in confirmation of this says:— 
“ Christian (Illiam Dlione) having prepared the coun- 
“ try for the execution of his treachery, suffered the 
“ Parliamentary forces to land without resistance, seized 
“ upon the lady and her children, with the Governors 
“ of both castles, and the next morning brought them 
“ prisoners to Duckinfield and Birch, who told Duckin- 
“ field that her ladyship had surrendered the island 
“ upon articles. She requested of Colonels Duckinfield 
“and Birch, but especially of Christian, who had 
“ formed and acquiesced to those articles, that she and 
“her children might have leave to retire to Peel 
“ Castle, from whence she proposed that she might in 


86 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


*• some little time, get over to her friends in France or 
“ Holland, or some place of rest or refuge, but she was 
“ utterly denied that favour by her hard-hearted and 
“ inhuman enemies. She and her children continued 
“ prisoners in the island until his Majesty’s happy 
“ Eestoration, (enduring all their sufferings with a 
“ generous resolution and Christian patience) and 
“then, expecting justice against her lord’s murderers, 
“her son restored to the sequestered estates of her 
“ father, and some compensation for the immense losses 
“and devastations of her family; but failing of all, 
“her great heart over-filled with grief and endless 
“ sorrow, burst in pieces, and she died at Knowsley 
“ House, with that Christian temper and exemplary 
“ piety in which she had always lived.” 

It is only right to say that the accuracy of the 
above statement is denied, more particularly as to 
her alleged imprisonment in the Isle of Man, until 
after the Eestoration, and in support of this, it is 
said that on the 7th of August, 1656, being then 
resident at Knowsley, she presented the Eev. 
Nathaniel Hey wood to the Vicarage of Ormskirk; and 
Cumming, in his recent interesting work, “ The Great 
Stanley,” states that the original of the presentation is 
still in the possession of a member of the family. He 
adds that “ On the 26th of February, 1660, being The 
“ True and undoubted patron,’ she nominated the Eev. 

“ John Greenalgh, S.T.B., to the Eectory of Bury, having 


JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 87 

“procured tlie resignation of tlie Rev. John Lightfoot/ 
“ the last incumbent.” He then observes: “ These do 
“ not look like the acts of a poor prisoner, confined, as it 
“ is said, in a dark dungeon of Rushen Castle, with two 
“ of her children, who are stated to have there caught 
“ the small-pox,—and at the end of the time permitted 
“ to walk about the Isle of Man destitute, and sub- 
“sisting on alms. Can we believe that her son, 
“ Charles, who during that time was, undoubtedly, 
“ living free, and in the enjoyment of a competency, 
“ would have been so wanting in filial affection as to 
“ allow his mother to be in absolute want, and suf¬ 
fering such indignities? Unfortunately, the posi- 
“ tive evidences as to the residence of the Countess 
“between 1652 and 1660 are still wanting, but the 
“ negative evidence is certainly very strong, against 
“ the unsupported testimony of Seacome.” The pre¬ 
cise date of her death, however, is not in dispute. 
She died at Knowsley, on the 21st of March, 1663, 
aged 57, and was buried on the 6th of April, by the 
side of her husband, in the family vault at Ormskirk. 



CHAPTER V. 


CHARLES, EIGHTH EARL, TO EDWARD, ELEVENTH 

EARL OF DERBY. 

The great Stanley was succeeded by bis son Charles, 
Lord Strange, as eighth Earl of Derby; but for 
many years it was only an empty title, as the part 
which his father took in the Civil War, on behalf of 
the King, had sadly impoverished the family. Charles 
married Dorothea Helena, daugher of John Kirk- 
hoven, Baron of Rupa, in Holland. By this marriage 
lie had four sons and two daughters. For several years 
after his father’s execution, and until the period of 
the Restoration, he was in needy circumstances, if not 
in actual pecuniary distress, and lived along with 
his mother and family in economical retirement at 
Bidston Hall, in Cheshire, for Lathom House was a 
heap of ruins, and Knowsley in a condition little 
superior. Besides this, more than one-half of the 
estates of the family were either sold or sequestered ; 
he possessed not one in Lancashire, Cheshire, West- 


CHARLES, EIGHTH EARL OF DERBY. 89 

morland, Cumberland, Warwickshire, York, or Wales, 
from which he could not see others of equal or greater 
value, that had been lost by his father for his devotion 
to the cause of Charles the First. And yet, when a 
bill to effect the redemption of his estates had unani¬ 
mously passed both Houses of Parliament, the royal 
assent was withheld by the son of that King, for whom 
the illustrious Earl had ruined the fortunes of his 
family, and laid his own head upon the block. Two years 
before the Restoration, the Earl took a part in resisting 
the conduct of Parliament, which led to his imprison¬ 
ment. Cromwell dying in 1658, was succeeded in the 
Commonwealth, but really in name only, by his son 
Pilchard; unlike his resolute and determined father, 
he was a weak and vaccilating ruler, and the Parlia¬ 
ment, practically, put him aside; but the manner in 
which they conducted State affairs became one of so 
mean and tyrannical a character, that the bulk of the 
people could no longer submit to it. The Pioyalists, 
too, in the country, were now increasing both in 
numbers and influence, in addition to which, the 
Presbyterians also looked with disfavour on the 
arbitrary proceedings which now characterised the 
conduct of the Parliament. This feeling, on the part 
of both the Royalists and the Presbyterians, at length 
culminated in a determination to resist by force of 
arms the ruling power. Accordingly, an organisation 
was effected for a simultaneous rising, in different 


90 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


parts of tlie country, on a given day. The plan, 
however, was frustrated, with one exception, by Sir 
Richard Willis, who was in the confidence of the 
Royalists, having treacherously apprised the party in 
power of what was intended ; and the only enterprise 
actually attempted was that of seizing the City of 
Chester, undertaken by Sir George Booth. The Earl 
of Derby got together a party of Royalists in Lan¬ 
cashire, and headed them in assisting Sir George, 
but the insurrectionists were defeated by the Parlia¬ 
mentary forces, under the command of Lambert, and 
a considerable number taken prisoners, amongst them 
being the Earl of Derby, who remained incarcerated 
until the Restoration, when he was released from im¬ 
prisonment along with several others. In the following 
year, 1661, an event took place in the Isle of Man, 
which resulted in the Earl of Derby and his illus¬ 
trious mother, being to a certain extent revenged for 
the cruel treatment which the dowager Countess had 
received at the hands of William Christian. In Sep¬ 
tember of that year, Christian was arrested, at the 
instance of the Earl, on the charge of havinsr 
treacherously given up the Isle of Man to the Parlia¬ 
ment, He was brought to trial on that accusation, and 
being found guilty, was condemned to death, the 
sentence being carried out on the 2nd of January, 
1662, when the traitor was shot at Hange Hall. 
Although, as we have already stated, Charles the 


WILLIAM, NINTH EARL OF DERBY. 


91 


Second ungratefully refused the bill passed by Par¬ 
liament, for restoring the family estates, the Earl 
ultimately recovered them, and died at Knowsley, on 
the 21st of December, 1672. 


Charles, the eighth Earl of Derby, was succeeded 
in his title and estates by his son, William, as ninth 
Earl. Unlike his ancestors, the Earl appears to have 
taken little or no interest in public matters, but 
devoted his time, to a great extent, in field sports and 
other pastimes. He resided alternately at Lathom, 
Knowsley, and in the Isle of Man, where he largely 
patronized horse racing. He married Elizabeth, daugh¬ 
ter to Thomas, Earl of Ossory, and grand-daughter to 
the old Duke of Ormonde, and by her he had issue 
one son, James, Lord Strange, who died at Venice, on 
his travels, in the 20tli year of his age. He had also 
two daughters, Henrietta and Elizabeth. Henrietta 
was first married to the Earl of Anglesea, and secondly 
to John, Lord Ashburnham. Elizabeth died when 
fourteen years of age. His intention was to re-build 
and adorn Lathom House, and he had already erected 
a new front, but he did not live to finish it, and died 
in 1702, at Chester, when mayor of that city. 




92 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


The ninth Earl, William, dying without male 
issue, was succeeded by his brother James, who was 
in the army, and had for many years been abroad. 
He was closely attached to William, Prince of Orange, 
under whom he served during the Prince’s campaigns 
in Flanders. During this Earl’s lifetime, and that of 
his brother, the connexion of the family with Preston 
became close, and in the year 1688, when the Convo¬ 
cation Parliament sat, he was member of Parliament 
for that borough. In politics he was a Whig, and 
warmly supported that party. In the year 1710, 
when the Whigs, under Marlborough’s administration, 
were expelled from power, the Earl was rather ungra¬ 
ciously removed from the office of Lord Lieutenant of 
Lancashire, the proceeding being sanctioned by Queen 
Anne. On the accession, however, of the House of 
Hanover, he was reinstated in office. In the year 
1708, he repaired the family seat at Ivnowsley, and 
whilst doing so, in order to mark his sense of the in¬ 
gratitude of Charles the Second, he caused the follow¬ 
ing inscription to be carved on a stone in front of it, 
which remains to the present day: “James, Earl of 
“Derby, Lord of Man and the Isles, grandson of 
“James, Earl of Derby, (by Charlotte, daughter of 
“ Claude, Duke of Tremouille,) who was beheaded at 
“Bolton, 15tli of October, 1651, for strenuously ad- 
“ hering to King Charles the Second, who refused a 
“ bill unanimously passed by both Houses of Parlia- 


JAMES, TENTH EARL OF DERBY. 93 

“ ment, for restoring to the family tlie estate lie had 
“lost by his loyalty to him.” He married Mary, 
daughter of Sir William Morley, but had only one 
son, who died an infant, and the Earl dying without 
issue, on the 1st February, 1736, the Barony of 
Strange and the lordship of Man then descended 
to the Duke of Athol, who, as we have already stated, 
married a daughter of James, the seventh Earl of 
Derby; and the earldom itself to the next male 
heir, Sir Edward Stanley, Bart., of Bickerstaffe, who 
was descended from Thomas, first Earl of Derby. 

The Isle of Man finally reverted to the crown in 
the reign of George the Third. In 1795 an Act of 
Parliament was passed, by which the lordship of 
Man, with all its rights, was purchased by Govern¬ 
ment from the Duke of Athol and his family, for 
the sum of £70,000. 


Edward, the eleventh Earl, who, as we have just 
stated, succeeded to the earldom when Sir Edward 
Stanley, was the son of Sir Thomas Stanley, Bart., M.P. 
for Preston, in the Parliament of 1695, who married 
the daughter and heiress of Thomas Patten, Esq., M.P. 
for Preston in the Parliament of 1688, and by that 
marriage, succeeded to considerable property in the 
neighbourhood of Preston, including the family man¬ 
sion, “ Patten House,” in Church Street, in that town. 



94 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


which was for many years afterwards the frequent 
residence of the Stanley family, and during the 
guilds, races, and other occasions, the scene of much 
gaiety and hospitality. Edward the eleventh Earl, 
was horn at his fathers residence at Preston, in 1689, 
where, at that time, the family spent a great portion 
of their time. Edward (the future Earl) was for some 
time an alderman of that borough, and served the 
office of mayor of Preston, in the year 1731-2, when 
in his forty-second year, and only five years before he 
became Earl of Derby. The massive silver punch 
bowl, still used by the corporation on festive occasions, 
was given by the Earl in 1742, after his resignation of 
the office of alderman. In 1714 he married Elizabeth, 
daughter and heiress of Eobert Hesketh, of Kufford 
Hall, near Ormskirk, the ancestor of Sir Thomas 
George Hesketh, of Kufford Hall, at present M.P. for 
Preston, in conjunction with the Hon. Frederick 
Arthur Stanley, second son of the present Earl of 
Derby. By this marriage he had issue, James, 
Lord Stanley,born in 1717. Sir Edward was for several 
years M.P. for the county of Lancaster, and when 
elevated to the peerage, he was also appointed 
Lord Lieutenant of the county, which he held 
for several years, when he resigned the office in 
favour of his son, Lord Stanley, or Lord Strange, as he 
was usually called, notwithstanding that that title 
had descended to the house of Athol. Lord Stanley 


EDWARD, ELEVENTH EARL OF DERBY. 95 

married the daughter and co-lieiress of Hugh Smith, 
Esq., of Weald Hall, Essex, a very ancient family, on 
which occasion he assumed the name of Smith Stanley, 
(which will account for one of the Christian names of 
the present Earl of Derby.) By this marriage he had 
issue Edward Smith Stanley, (afterwards twelfth Earl) 
besides three daughters, Elizabeth, Lucy, and Harriet, 
who were married respectively to the Bev. Sir Thomas 
Horton; the Bev. Geoffrey Hornby, rector of Winwick; 
and Sir Watts Horton, of Cliadderton, elder brother of 
Sir Thomas; two sisters, therefore, being married to 
two brothers. In the year 1771, during the life time 
of his father the Earl, Lord Stanley died, when the 
former again became Lord Lieutenant of the county, 
an office which he retained up to the time of his death. 
His advanced years caused him to live in almost 
exclusive retirement at Knowsley, where he died on 
the 23rd of February, 1776, at the ripe old age of 87. 
It is not a little remarkable that his Countess, who 
had also arrived at a great age, died almost immediately 
after her lord, and within two days, they both reposed, 
side by side, in the family vault at Ormskirk. 


CHAPTER VI. 


EDWARD, TWELFTH EARL OF DERBY. 

Edward Smith Stanley, son of Lord Stanley who, 
as we have already stated, died in the lifetime of his 
father, succeeded his grandfather, as twelfth Earl of 
Derby, at the early age of 24. The twelfth Earl, was 
born at the family mansion, “ Patten House/’ in Preston, 
on the 12th of September, 1752, and, as at the period of 
his birth, and for some time afterwards. Lord Stanley, 
otherwise Lord Strange, resided a great deal at 
Preston, his son, the future Earl, was for many years, 
a pupil at the grammar school in that town. He 
subsequently graduated at Trinity College, Cambridge, 
and at the early age of 22, namely, in the year 1774, he 
married Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, eldest daughter of 
James, sixth Duke of Hamilton, at the time still 
younger than himself, being only in the 21st year of 
her age. He had issue by her, Edward, (the late Earl) 
besides two daughters, Charlotte, and Elizabeth 
Henrietta, the former of whom was married to 
Edmund Hornby, Esq., son of the Rev. Geoffrey 


EDWARD, TWELFTH EARL OF DERBY. 


97 


Hornby, dying on the 25th of November, 1806. The 
last named daughter was married to S. T. Cole, Esq. 
It would appear that the Earl’s marriage was not in 
its results a happy one, as he and his Countess after¬ 
wards separated. 

Although in early life he filled high offices, he 
did not take any very active part in the affairs of 
state, but in his political conduct he was ever firm to 
the Whig instincts and traditions of his family. 
Immediately after coming of age, he was elected one 
of the members for the county of Lancaster, which he 
represented until his elevation to the earldom, when at 
the same time he was appointed Lord Lieutenant, an 
office which he held up to the time of his death, extend¬ 
ing over a period of more than half a century. He was 
also appointed one of the ministers during the exis¬ 
tence of the government of the Duke of Portland, 
filling the office of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lan¬ 
caster in that administration, but he only held the 
office under that government for a short period. In 
about twenty-three years afterwards, however—for 
it was in 1783 that he first held office—he was 
again made Chancellor of the Duchy, on the forma¬ 
tion of the government in which Lord Grey and Lord 
Holland were prominent members, having consis¬ 
tently given his adherence and support to those dis¬ 
tinguished statesmen. Individual distinction and 
prominence, however, in public and political life, he 


98 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


did not seem to court for liimself, however much he 
might afterwards have promoted and encouraged it, 
in the persons of his son and his grandsons. He 
appeared rather to delight in the splendid hospitali¬ 
ties of the social and private circle, and field sports 
had for him greater attractions than any of those 
honours which the performance of grave senatorial 
duties confer. In his day horse-racing and cock- 
fighting were popular and fashionable, confined to 
no one class of the community, hut shared in and 
enj oyed by all; and the act for the prevention of 
cruelty to animals not then being in existence, nor 
even contemplated by the legislature—indeed had it, 
at that period, been brought into the House, the latter 
would have unanimously carried a resolution “ that the 
“ hill he read that day six months ”—there was no ob¬ 
stacle to the enjoyment, as well in democratic as in 
aristocratic circles, of that which was regarded as a 
good old English pastime. Accordingly, we find that 
the Earl of Derby had one of the best studs, and the 
best breed of cocks of any nobleman in the country. 
In the enjoyment of the latter sport he was passionately 
enthusiastic, personally attending the several “ mains” 
and race-meetings, more especially at Preston, where he 
erected a cock-pit at his own expense—which now, by 
the way, has been converted into a temperance hall—■ 
and maintained a noble and liberal hospitality at his 
residence, “ Patten House,” in that town, where he 


EDWARD, TWELFTH EARL OF DERBY. 99 

was always surrounded, during tlie race week, by a 
brilliant circle of the aristocracy of the county. He 
also attended the races and “ mains ” at Liverpool 
and other places, in a similar manner, General Yates, 
whose breed of cocks was considered equal to that of 
his lordship, being almost uniformly his opponent. 
Large sums were always staked upon the issue of each 
main, by his Lordship and the General, a thousand 
guineas being the ordinary amount, but there were 
several occasions on which the mains were fought for 
as much as two and even three thousand guineas. 

On the 14th of March, 1797, his wife, from whom 
he had been separated for several years, died, and in 
a short time afterwards, on the 1st of May, in the 
same year, he was married to the celebrated Miss 
Farren, who became his second Countess. It is due 
to his Lordship’s memory, as well as to that of Miss 
Farren, to state that his attachment to that gifted 
lady was of a purely honourable and affectionate 
character, which was testified by the fact that even 
before the marriage, but more especially after it, she 
was received in the highest circles, and was recog¬ 
nised and cordially welcomed at court. She had the 
reputation of being not less amiable than talented, 
and her society was sought and enjoyed by all who 
could appreciate intellectual acquirements, or admire 
the most exalted virtues. By his second Countess the 
Earl had issue, a daughter, still-born, on the 27tli of 


100 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


March, 1798; Lucy Elizabeth, born 12th March, 
1799, died 27th April, 1809, in the eleventh year of 
her age, and buried at Ormskirk; James Smith 
Stanley, born 9th March, 1800, died 3rd April, 1817, 
aged 17, and buried at Ormskirk; and Mary Mar¬ 
garet, born 23rd March, 1801, married 29tli Novem¬ 
ber, 1821, to Thomas Egerton, second and present 
Earl of Wilton. She died in 1860. The Countess of 
Derby died on the 23rd of April, 1829, and the Earl’s 
death took place on the 21st of October, 1834, in 
the 83rd year of his age, and they were both interred 
in the family vault at Ormskirk. 

The Earl’s funeral, which took place on the 31st 
of October, ten days after his death, was conducted 
with much pomp and ceremony, and was very nume¬ 
rously attended by all classes of the community 
connected with the county. It was the wish of the 
family, who were desirous of carrying out the direc¬ 
tions of the deceased Earl, that his interment should 
take place with all the privacy that his rank might 
admit of, but the lengthened period during which he 
had enjoyed the earldom, extending over nearly sixty 
years, and the universal popularity and respect in 
which he had been held during a life unusually pro¬ 
longed, caused the funeral to be attended by a con¬ 
siderable number of the aristocracy and other residents 
within the county palatine, who were anxious to 
accompany the noble Earl’s remains to their last 

\ _ 

* l 

» \ < 


EDWARD, TWELFTH EARL OF DERBY. 101 

eartlily resting place; and the carriages and other 
vehicles which joined the mournful cortege as it 
emerged from the Stanley Gate entrance to Knowsley, 
were upwards of sixty in number. The shops and 
other places of business in Ormskirk were closed 
during the day ; the blinds were drawn down in most, 
if not all the private houses; and, throughout the 
town, every outward manifestation of mourning was 
shown. Large numbers of strangers came into the 
town from all parts of the county ; the inn yards, and 
even the several streets, being crowded with carriages 
and vehicles of every description. The church was 
filled some hours before the funeral procession arrived 
at the sacred edifice, every seat being occupied, and 
several hundreds were unable to obtain admission. 
The funeral cortege left the hall at nine o’clock in the 
morning, headed by four mutes on horseback, with 
pages on each side. These were followed by the 
tenants on the Knowsley estate, two hundred and 
eighty in number, riding on black horses, and wearing 
hat bands and scarfs. To these succeeded the house¬ 
hold servants, walking two abreast. Four mourning 
coaches followed, containing respectively the deceased 
Earl’s physicians, clergymen, and the pall bearers, 
with four pages on each side of the coaches. Two 
mutes on horseback again succeeded, followed by his 
lordship’s coronet and cushion, on a state horse. Next 
came the body, borne in a hearse drawn by six horses. 


102 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


with heraldic insignia. Four mourning coaches, each 
drawn by four horses, followed, the first coach con¬ 
taining the chief mourners, namely, the Earl of Derby, 
son of the deceased Earl, and his grandsons, Lord 
Stanley, the Hon. Henry Thomas Stanley, and the 
Hon. Charles James Fox Stanley. The three other 
mourning coaches contained the Earl of Wilton, the 
Hon. Richard Bootle Wilbraham, Edmund George 
Hornby, Esq., Colonel Hornby, Edmund Hornby, Esq., 
Edward Penhryn, Esq., Captain Hornby, Adam 
Hodgson, Esq., the Rev. F. Hopwood, Rev. G. Hornby, 
Rev. J. J. Hornby, and the Rev. E. James. The four 
mourning coaches just named were immediately fol¬ 
lowed by the deceased Earl’s carriage, drawn by six 
horses, the Earl of Derby’s carriage, and Lord Stanley’s 
carriage, each drawn by four horses, and all closed. 
On the cortege arriving at Stanley Gate, about two 
miles and a half from Ormskirk, it was joined by the 
general procession, consisting of thirty-six private 
carriages, containing the members of the leading 
families of the county, and other gentlemen, amongst 
them being the Mayor of Liverpool, and the Rev. 
Jonathan Brookes and the Rev. Augustus Campbell, 
Rectors of Liverpool. On the procession arriving at 
the church, about eleven o’clock in the forenoon, the 
body was met by the Rev. Joshua Thomas Horton, 
vicar of Ormskirk, who performed the funeral service. 
The pall bearers were Lord Skelmersdale, the Marquis 


EDWARD, TWELFTH EARL OF DERBY. 103 

of Westminster, Lord Molynenx, Sir Tlios. Dalrymple 
Hesketh, Bart., Colonel Bawstorne, W. Egerton, Esq., 
W. Hulton, Esq., and B. G. Hopwood, Esq. The 
liearse in which the body was borne was most ela¬ 
borately finished, and very costly. The outline was 
somewhat tomb-like, with columns at the angles, and 
its draperies were most beautifully ornamented and 
embellished with superb fringes, tassels, and plumes. 
Placed in compartments there were ten escutcheons, 
bearing the arms of the deceased, with the quarterings 
of the various alliances, and on the horse-palls ap¬ 
peared coronets, showing the deceased’s dignity. The 
coffin was covered with rich crimson silk velvet, orna¬ 
mented with massive silver handles, chased like coro¬ 
nets. On the lid there was a fine chased ornament, 
emblematic of life and eternity, with a large silver plate, 
bearing the following inscription :—“ The Bight Hon. 
“ Edward Smith Stanley, twelfth Earl of Derby, born 
“ September 12, 1752, died October 21, 1834." When 
the coffin was deposited in its place in the vault, the 
herald went down, and placed the coronet and cushion 
on the lid. 

The Earl was succeeded in his title and estates 
by his son Edward, who became thirteenth Earl. 


CHAPTER YII. 


EDWARD, THIRTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 

Edward, thirteenth Earl, who was born on the 
21st of April, 1775, married, in the year 1798, his 
cousin, Charlotte Margaret, second daughter of the 
Rev. Geoffrey Hornby, by whom he had issue, 
Edward George Geoffrey Smith Stanley, (now four¬ 
teenth Earl,) the Hon. Henry Thomas Stanley, and 
the Hon. Charles James Fox Stanley; besides four 
daughters, namely, Charlotte Elizabeth, married in 
1823, to Edward Penrliyn, Esq., and died in 1853; 
Emily Lucy, who died in infancy; Louisa Emily, 
married in 1825, to Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Long, 
but died in December following; and Ellin or Mary, 
married to the Rev. Frank George Hopwood, the 
present rector of Winwick. • In the year 1796, 
on the dissolution of Parliament, and immediately 
after attaining his majority, he was elected a 
member of Parliament for the borough of Preston, 
under circumstances which it may be interesting 
here to record. For several years before this election* 


EDWARD, THIRTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 105 

extending, indeed, to nearly half a century backwards,, 
the Derby family and the Corporation had been con¬ 
stantly at issue, a*s to whether the former or the 
latter should nominate the members for Preston, and 
the contests were always severe, invariably resulting, 
however, in the election of the Earl’s nominees, 
against those of the Corporation. Eor a period of 
nearly thirty years, namely, from 1768 to 1795, the 
borough was, with one exception, exclusively repre¬ 
sented by General Burgoyne, (who, while a subaltern in 
a marching regiment, stationed in Preston, contracted 
a secret marriage with Lady Charlotte Stanley, a 
daughter of the eleventh Earl of Derby,) and Sir 
Henry Hogliton, Bart., the candidates in the interest 
of the Derby family. The exception to which we 
have alluded was, that on the death of General 
Burgoyne, in 1792, he was succeeded in the represen¬ 
tation by Mr. William Cunliffe Sliawe, who, like his 
predecessors, came into Parliament under the Whig 
or Derby interest. We have already stated that at the 
general election, in 1796, the subject of our present 
notice, then Lord Stanley, became a candidate, in 
conjunction with Sir Henry Philip Hogliton, 
Mr. Sliawe having retired. The Corporation, on 
this occasion, made a determined stand against the 
Derby interest, bringing forward as their candidate in 
the Tory, and, as they expressed it, the “manufactu¬ 
ring interest,” Mr. John Horrocks, the head of the 


106 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


now wide-world-known and celebrated manufacturing 
firm of Horrocks, Miller, & Co. Mr. Horrocks at 
tliat time employed a considerable number of work¬ 
people in tlie town, and was a person of much wealth 
and local influence. The contest was an exceedingly 
severe one, and personal and party feeling ran very 
high. The poll was kept open for eleven days, 
during the first eight of which Mr. Horrocks was each 
day at the head. On the ninth day, however, he fell 
to the second; on the tenth he was at the bottom of 
the poll; and on the morning of the eleventh, he 
retired, when the numbers were—Stanley, 772; 
Hoghton, 756; Horrocks, 742. At this election the 
celebrated Lord Abinger, chief Baron of the Exchequer, 
but at that time plain Mr. Scarlett, acted as “ as¬ 
sistant” to the Mayor, and was paid 200 guineas for 
his services. A memorandum appears in the books 
of the Corporation, to the effect that that body bor¬ 
rowed the money from Mr. Pedder, a banker, and 
gave a bond for the amount. In order to show the 
intensity of the hostile feeling which at this time 
existed between the Derby family and the Corpora¬ 
tion, in reference to the representation of the borough, 
we quote tlie following extract from an able and 
interesting little work, on the “ History of the Par¬ 
liamentary Representation of Preston, during the last 
hundred years,” by William Dobson :—“ While,” 
says the author “the Derbyite nominees were the 


EDWARD, THIRTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 107 

“ members, tliey were never, except one of tliem on a 
“ single occasion, solicited to take charge of any 
“ of the numerous addresses, which the Corporation 
“ were accustomed to present to the throne. Mr. Black- 
“ burne, the Tory member for the county, was always 
“ selected to be the medium of the corporate filicita- 
“ tions reaching the ears of royalty. Not merely was 
“ the feeling of hostility between the rival competitors 
“ for political influence carried into the business of 
“ the town, but even into its pleasures, and for six 
“ years, from 1786 to 1791, races were held under the 
“ auspices of each party, the Corporation races being 
“ held on Preston Moor; the Earl of Derby’s races, as 
“an opposition meeting, on Fulwood Moor, a lease of 
“ which had been obtained from the Duchy of Lancas- 
“ ter. The political differences which divided the 
“ town extended even to sedan chairs. The coats of 
“ the chairmen had collars of the colour of one or 
“ other of the two great parties, and as the ladies 
“ were equally warm in their political sympathies as 
“ the rougher sex, they showed their predilection, not 
“ only in the ribbons they wore, but in the choice of 
“ their sedans. A lady of the family of Pedder, or 
" Starkie, or Gorst, would have walked home in a 
«thunder storm before she would have been carried 
“ in a Derby or Burgoyne chair, while the wives and 
“damsels of the Sliaws, the Hornbys, and the 
“ Whiteheads, would have missed going to the best 


108 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ ball of tlie season, rather than have been taken there 
“ in a Corporation sedan.” 

In the next election, which took place in 1802, 
Lord Stanley was again elected member for Preston, 
but under circumstances altogether dissimilar to those 
which we have just recorded. There were two reasons 
why it was deemed advisable that a different state of 
things to that which had so long existed should 
prevail. On the one hand the election struggles 
between the Corporation and the Derby interests respec¬ 
tively, had involved the former in certain expenses 
which, if not actually illegal, were at least not credit¬ 
able to a public body; while, on the other hand, the 
influence of Mr. Horrocks had so largely increased, in 
consequence of his energy and enterprise in extending 
the cotton trade in the town, that a compromise 
between the two parties was recommended, and 
ultimately carried into effect; the terms of arrange¬ 
ment being that the Derby family should nominate 
one member, and the Corporation and manufacturing 
interest the other, and that each should support 
the other in carrying out the bargain. This ques¬ 
tionable arrangement, which we must say, displays 
an absence of political dignity on both sides, inasmuch 
as parties diametrically opposed to each other were 
now to work together against any independent candi¬ 
date whose views might be in accord with either of the 
coalition candidates, was nevertheless gravely reduced 


EDWARD, THIRTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 109 

to writing, and signed by the “high contracting parties,” 
for it is recorded in Baines’s History of Lancashire, 
that “ this coalition was made through the intervention 
“ of Thomas Butter worth Bagley, Esq., of Hope, near 
“ Manchester, and ratified by the signatures of eleven 
“ gentlemen in Preston, the leaders of the parties, to 
“ a written agreement prepared for the purpose.” 
Under it, Lord Stanley, the Whig, and Mr. John 
Horrocks, the Tory, were returned unopposed at the 
election in 1802, Sir Henry Hoghton having retired. 
Mr. John Horrocks, however, died in 1804, when he 
was succeeded by his brother Mr. Samuel Horrocks. 
The next election was in 1806, when Lord Stanley 
and Mr. Samuel Horrocks were again elected under 
the “compactand in the following year, 1807, when 
the Parliament was dissolved, they a third time 
presented themselves, and were, as before, returned 
unopposed. The absence of high political principle 
involved in this arrangement, was frequently severely 
commented upon by the journalists of the time, and 
one writer, referring to the position of Lord Stanley 
and Mr. Horrocks under the terms to which they 
respectively became parties, somewhat satirically 
remarks, “Although they scarcely ever voted on the 
“ same side in the House of Commons, they had in 
“ Preston one committee, they canvassed together, and 
“ strange as it would now seem, subscribed their 
“names to the same address.” This remarkable 


110 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ coalition/’ however, although several times assailed 
by independent candidates and their friends, who did 
not approve of such a Whig and Tory combination, 
was successful at every general election which took 
place after the agreement, and it was only in the year 
1826, when the present Earl of Derby, then Mr. 
Stanley, first became a candidate for Preston, that it 
was broken through. In 1812 Lord Stanley resigned 
his seat for Preston, in order to become a candidate 
for Lancashire, in place of his relative Colonel Stanley, 
who then retired from Parliament. He continued 
to represent the county until 1832, when he was called 
to the House of Peers, in his father’s life time, by the 
title of Baron Stanley, of Bickerstaffe. He never made 
any prominent display whilst in Parliament, but during 
the whole of that period, both in the House of 
Commons and in the Peers, he was a firm and 
consistent supporter of the Whigs. For several years 
before his death he ceased to take much interest 
in public affairs, and occupied the most of his time in 
increasing and enriching his menagerie and aviary at 
Knowsley. He was devotedly attached to zoology, a 
science which he largely pursued. He was for several 
years president of the Linnaean and Zoological Societies, 
and his collection of mammalia, birds, and objects of 
natural history and zoology at Knowsley was the largest, 
most varied, and most valuable in the kingdom, consist¬ 
ing of specimens from all parts of the world. The main- 


EDWARD, THIRTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. Ill 

tenance of liis menagerie and aviary, wliicli necessitated 
tlie occupation of one hundred acres of land within 
Knowsley Park, in addition to a water space of seventy 
acres, is said to have cost him upwards of £15,000 a 
year, and the probability of the truth of this may he 
imagined when we state that he had agents in almost 
every known country, who were constantly purchasing 
for him living, as well as dead specimens of all kinds 
and species, which they forwarded to him at Knowsley, 
to he added to his already extensive collection there. 
The number of mammalia in the collection consisted 
of 94 species, containing 345 individuals, of which no 
less than 39 species and 207 individuals were bred at 
Knowsley. The collection of birds was numerous and 
varied, consisting, exclusive of poultry, of 318 species 
and 1272 individuals, and of this number 45 species 
and 549 individuals were bred at Knowsley. Thus the 
total number of mammalia and birds in the col¬ 
lection amounted to 412 species and 1617 individuals. 
The extensive area appropriated for the accom¬ 
modation of the several specimens was exceed¬ 
ingly well arranged, the mammalia having ample 
space and shelter in large paddocks, whilst the 
birds had also a spacious run under wired covers. The 
animals comprised rare and costly specimens from 
almost every foreign country; amongst them being 
the female yak, (Poephagus grunniens ,) a native of 
Thibet, as also a hybrid bidl of the same species, like- 


112 


THE STANLEYS OF KN OWSLEY. 


wise from Thibet. There is a peculiarity about the 
yak which can scarcely be said to apply to any other 
animal. It was affirmed, at the time when the Earl’s 
aviary was in existence, that it was the only species of 
domesticated cattle that had not then extended beyond 
its natural boundary. The specimen in the Knowsley 
collection resembled in size a small English ox, 
its very long hair and large bushy tail giving it 
a somewhat remarkable appearance. When the 
Nepaulese Ambassador visited this country, he brought 
with him several presents for the Queen; amongst 
them being the cliovmj , or cow-tail fan, which in 
Nepaul is an appendage of royalty. These fans were 
from the tail of the yak, which is composed of a tuft 
of long silky hair. There were also several specimens 
of the Brahmin zebu and Arab bull and cow, {Bos 
Taurus .) The Brahmin cattle were largely turned to 
practical account by the late Earl, the valuable cross 
between them and the English short-liorns being first 
introduced by his lordship, and it may be added that 
the breed is still maintained on the Knowsley estate. 
The collection also included both male and female 
Bara Singh a deer, (■ Cervus Axis?) Duvaucellii , Cervus 
Blaphoides, or Cervus Duvaucellii ,) being the only 
living specimens in the country at the time, with 
the exception of one in the Zoological Gardens, 
London. There was also a fine elk, ( Cervus Alces 
palmatus ,) from North America, ft was a specimen 


EDWARD, THIRTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 113 

of the largest of the deer species, which is much 
prized by the American hunter for its flesh. 
Amongst the antelopes were the male and female 
gnu {Antilope Gnu), from South Africa; also two 
male and three female elands, (.Antilope Oreas ), 
which were then the only living specimens in this 
country, one of them being bred at Knowsley. The 
eland is the largest of the antelope species; when 
full grown it measures five feet in height at the 
shoulder, and in consequence of its docile character, 
and the rich quality of its flesh, it is more prized 
than any of the wild animals of South Africa. There 
were also in the collection eight Indian antelopes, 
(Capra cervicapra ,) one male and seven females, being 
the only herd ever brought to this country; besides 
several llamas, zebras, kangaroos, rodents, lemurs, 
armadillos, and a great variety of foreign goats, 
sheep, and dogs. 

The aviary included a splendid collection of 
vultures, eagles, emus,ostriches, parrots and parroquets, 
including the masked parrots from the South Sea 
Islands, being the only living birds of the kind in the 
country; bustards, East India cassowary, cranes, 
and pelicans. There were also in the collection six 
black-necked swans from South America, of a rare 
and valuable species, being the only living specimens 
ever brought to this country, also five Impeyan 
pheasants, male and female, from the Himalaya 


8 


114 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


Mountains, a most gorgeous species; game of all kinds, 
including partridge and grouse, and in addition, a 
numerous collection of poultry. 

The Earl had also a splendid museum, contain¬ 
ing several thousand specimens, and consisting of 
animals and birds which had died in the menagerie 
and aviary at Knowsley, besides several other speci¬ 
mens obtained by collectors, at the cost of his 
lordship, in almost every part of the world. One of 
the most valuable birds in the museum was the 
apteryx, or wingless bird of New Zealand, being the 
first specimen ever brought to Europe. This inte¬ 
resting and remarkable bird was brought to England 
in 1812, from the South Coast of New Zealand, by 
Captain Barclay, of the ship Providence. On his 
arrival in this country, Captain Barclay presented it 
to Dr. Shaw, one of the most prominent and able 
naturalists of the day. After it came into Dr. Shaw’s 
possession, he described it at great length in the 
24th volume of his own magazine, the Naturalist’s 
Miscellany. At the doctor’s death, the late Earl of 
Derby purchased the bird, and, as doubts had been 
thrown on the existence of such a specimen, the Earl 
forwarded it to the exhibition of the Linnsean Society. 
The materials with which it was stuffed were pre¬ 
viously removed by the Earl’s directions, and after¬ 
wards the skin was closely and minutely examined, 
which had the effect of finally dissipating the doubts 


EDWARD, THIRTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 115 

of those who had been sceptical as to its existence. 
The museum, which was one of the most extensive 
and varied in the country, consisted of 611 stuffed 
quadrupeds, and 11,131 stuffed birds, in addition to 
which there were 607 quadrupeds, and 7700 birds 
unstuffed, making a total of 1218 quadrupeds, and 
18,831 birds, or a grand total of 20,049; and besides 
the above named, there was also a large collection of 
eggs, and a considerable number of reptiles and fishes. 
Liverpool has great reason to be proud of his lord- 
ship, and honour and revere his memory, for at his 
death, which took place at Knowsley, on the 2nd of 
July, 1851, in the 77th year of his age, he bequeathed 
the whole of this splendid and unrivalled museum 
to the mayor and corporation of that town, in trust 
for the benefit of the inhabitants, and the magnificent 
collection is deposited in that part of the Free Library 
now known as the Derby Museum. 

Although the last years of the Earl’s life were 
passed in retirement at Knowsley, and to a great 
extent occupied in his favourite study of zoology, he 
at the same time devoted much of his time and atten¬ 
tion to projects for the employment of labour for the 
improvement of his estates and the benefit of his 
tenantry. He ever showed much consideration and 
sympathy for his servants and labourers, as the follow¬ 
ing interesting and touching circumstance will show. 
It was his lordship’s custom to pay a visit of inspec- 


116 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


tion over different portions of tlie Knowsley estates 
almost daily, and one day, whilst so engaged, he met a 
foreman in a distant part of the park, and finding the 
workmen absent he enquired of the foreman where 
they were, when the foreman replied, “ rather too 
frosty, my lord, to do a fair day’s work;” on which 
his lordship immediately rejoined, “ poor men must 
live, frost or no frost, as well as other men !” and he 
ordered the foreman to re-call the whole of the men 
and set them to some kind of employment or other. 

His lordship was interred in the family vault, at 
Ormskirk, on Tuesday, the 8th of July, the funeral 
procession being very imposing, and more than a mile 
in length. After the Earl’s death, the body was placed 
in an apartment known as “the Earl’s room,” where it 
reposed until it was removed to its final resting place. 
The arrangements of the room imparted to it a 
strikingly solemn appearance. The floor was covered 
with black cloth, and a black railing encircled the 
coffin, which was surrounded by plumes of ostrich 
feathers, these being again surrounded by immense 
wax candles, in silver candelabra. The coffin was 
made from an oak tree, that grew in Knowsley Park, 
and which had been a favourite with the deceased 
Earl. 

The general procession was formed at Stanley 
Gate, about two miles and a half from Ormskirk. It 
was headed by several mutes on horseback, accom- 


EDWARD, THIRTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 117 

panied by pages. After these came his lordship’s 
tenants, to the number of three hundred, all mounted 
on black horses, and wearing hat bands and scarfs. 
Then followed the several heads of departments at 
the hall, and other servants, both in and out of 
livery. Three mourning coaches, each drawn by four 
horses, succeeded, containing, respectively, the clergy, 
the medical attendants of the deceased, and the 
Earl’s several agents connected with the management 
of the Knowsley and other estates. Following these, 
again, were the coronet and cushion, on a state horse, 
richly and fully caparisoned. Then came the body, 
in a hearse drawn by six horses, attended by bearers 
with six truncheons on each side. It was immediately 
followed by a mourning coach, drawn by four horses, 
containing the chief mourners, namely, the present 
Earl of Derby; his brother, the Hon. Charles Janies 
Fox Stanley; and his son, Lord Stanley. Five other 
mourning coaches followed, all drawn by four horses, 
and containing, respectively, the immediate relatives 
and friends of the family, including Admiral Hornby, 
Colonel Hornby, Captain Wyndham Hornby, Captain 
Geoffery Hornby, Edward George Hornby, Esq., the 
Eev. Edward Hornby, Eev. William Hornby, Eev. W. 
Hopwood, Eev. Phipps Champneys, Colonel Long, the 
Earl of Wilton, the Earl of Sefton, the Hon. Colonel 
Wilbraham, L. Penhryn, Esq., 0. Penliryn, Esq., Adam 
Hodgson, Esq., the Eev. Ellis Ashton, and the Eev. 


118 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


Thomas Ashton. The deceased Earl’s carriage, drawn 
by six horses, and the present Earl’s carriage, drawn 
by four horses, and both closed, completed the pro¬ 
cession direct from the hall, but a considerable number 
of private carriages followed. The pall bearers were 
the Earl of Sefton, the Hon. Colonel Wilbraham, the 
Rev. William Hornby, Adam Hodgson, Esq., the Rev. 
Ellis Ashton, and the Rev. Thomas Ashton. The 
funeral service was read by the Rev. R. Rawstorne, vicar 
of Ormskirk, after which the body was deposited in 
the family vault inside the church, and laid by the 
side of the Earl’s Countess. It is probable that the 
deceased Earl will be the last of the family buried at 
Ormskirk, the vault being now full. A new one 
has been constructed at Knowsley Church, which, 
it is understood, will be the future place of sepulture 
of the Stanley family. 

In a few months after the Earl’s death, his rich 
and extensive aviary and menagerie was disposed of 
by public auction, and its world-wide celebrity brought 
to Knowsley large numbers of connoisseurs and pur¬ 
chasers, not only from all parts of England, but from 
France and other Continental nations. The sale took 
place in accordance with the will of the deceased Earl, 
who ordered that the collection should be sold, after 
her Majesty and the Zoological Society of London had 
exercised the privilege he had extended to them, of 
selecting each any animal or bird from the entire 


EDWARD, THIRTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 119 

collection. The Queen selected two of the black- 
necked swans, and the five Impeyan pheasants; and 
the Zoological Society chose the lot of Eland ante¬ 
lopes. It may here be stated that the elands con¬ 
tinued to breed so freely in the Zoological Gardens in 
London, that it became necessary to dispose of their 
surplus stock, which was principally sold to Viscount 
Hill, of Hawkstone, Shropshire, who has since bred 
them with equal success, and a fine fatted specimen 
was exhibited at the Christmas cattle show, 1867, in 
the Agricultural Hall, Islington, where it was pur¬ 
chased by an enterprising butcher, but who found 
it after all more profitable to sell it as a zoological 
specimen than as the dishes of beef or venison. 
The sale commenced on Monday, the 6th of October, 
and extended over that week and the following 
Monday, occupying altogether seven days. Although, 
as we have already stated, purchasers attended 
from several foreign countries, the proceeds of the 
sale were little more than nominal as compared 
with the cost of this magnificent collection, the 
aggregate amount of which can never be ascertained. 
The sum received was only about £7000, being not 
even equal to the annual expense of the mainten¬ 
ance and keep of the collection. The prices realised 
were thus much below the value of the several 
specimens, but some of them were sold for a con¬ 
siderable amount, including the male and female 


120 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


gnu, which fetched £283 10s.; the male and female 
leucoryx, £122; and two zebras, £140 and £150 
each. The eight Indian antelopes were sold to 
Lord Hill, for £85, and his lordship was also a 
large purchaser of other specimens. Several of 
the lots were purchased for the Queen, and amongst 
the other principal purchasers were the Zoological 
Society of London, the Earl of Ellesmere, Count 
Demidoff, and M. Vichman, of Antwerp. 

His lordship was succeeded by Edward George 
Geoffrey Smith Stanley, the present distinguished 
Earl, whose brilliant political and public career we 
shall now proceed to narrate. 



CHAPTEE VIII. 


THE RIGHT HON. EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF 
DERBY, K.G., PRIME MINISTER. 

Edward, thirteenth Earl of Derby, was succeeded 
in his title and estates, by Edward George Geoffery 
Smith Stanley, the fourteenth, and present Earl, who 
now occupies, for the third time, the dignified 
and high position of her Majesty’s Prime Minister. 
It may truly be said that the public career of 
the present Earl, who next to Janies, the “ Great 
Stanley,” is the most illustrious and distinguished of 
this illustrious house, embraces the political history of 
this country for nearly half a century past, and is 
identified with some of the most remarkable and 
memorable events in her political past. 

The talented subject of our present notice, 
now at the head of the government of the country, 
was born on the 29tli of March, 1799, at the family 
seat at Knowsley. The Honourable Edward Geoffery 
Smith Stanley, (for by this name and title we must for 


122 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


tlie present designate him,) was, when yet young, sent 
to Eton, where he received the earlier portion of his 
education. He was thence removed to Christ Church, 
Oxford, where he soon distinguished himself, in ver¬ 
sification and classical attainments, obtaining, in 
1819, the chancellor’s prize for Latin verse, the 
composition which gained him this honour, and which 
he read according to custom in the Slieldonian theatre, 
being entitled “ Syracuse.” He thus won great dis¬ 
tinction at the early age of twenty. 

In the year 1822., two years after he attained his 
majority, he was elected member for Stockbridge, 
entering Parliament as an adherent of those high 
Whig principles which his family had so long held 
and maintained. For two years after he was elected a 
member of the House he had the prudence, as a young 
member, to maintain a judicious silence, but this was 
not because he had not the ability to address the 
Parliament with eloquence and effect, for it is recorded 
of him that at the early age of nineteen he revealed the 
possession of those brilliant rhetorical powers for which 
he has now been so long pre-eminently distinguished, 
having on the occasion of a banquet at Preston, spoken 
in a manner which commanded the admiration of all 
who heard him. His maiden speech, in Parliament, 
however, was not delivered until 1824, when upon 
the 30th of March in that year, he addressed the 
House on the Manchester Gas Light bill, which, on 


ED WARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 123 


that night, was brought forward. His speech, which 
was directed against the measure, elicited the marked 
approbation of the House, more especially of that 
great authority. Sir James Mackintosh, who, im¬ 
mediately on Mr. Stanley resuming his seat rose, and 
said :— 

“I have heard, with the greatest pleasure, the 
“ speech which has just been delivered by my honour - 
“ able young friend behind me—a speech which must 
“ have given the highest satisfaction to all who heard 
“ it, and which affords the strongest promise that the 
“ talents which the honourable member has displayed 
“ in supporting the local interests of his constituents, 
“ will be exerted with equal ardour and effect in 
“ maintaining the rights and interests of the country. 
“ Xo man could have witnessed with greater satisfac- 
“ tion than myself an accession to the talents of this 
“ house which is calculated to give lustre to its 
“ character, and strengthen its influence; and it is 
“more particularly a subject of satisfaction to me, 
“ when I reflect that those talents are likely to be 
“ employed in supporting principles which I conscien¬ 
tiously believe to be most beneficial to the country.’’ 

In the same session of Parliament, and not long 
after the maiden speech to which we have just referred, 
Mr. Stanley again prominently displayed not only his 
great oratorical powers, but likewise those adminis¬ 
trative abilities by which he has since been 



124 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


distinguished. This was on the question of the Irish 
Church establishment, in reference to which, when in 
office, he took such a leading position. 

On the 31st of May, 1825, he married the Hon. 
Emma Caroline, second daughter of Edward Bootle 
Wilbraham, first Baron Skelmersdale, by whom he had 
issue Edward Henry, Lord Stanley, at present member 
for King’s Lynn, and also Chief Secretary for Foreign 
Affairs in his father’s administration; Lady Emma 
Charlotte married to the Hon. Colonel Talbot, 
brother of the Earl of Shrewsbury; and the Hon. 
Frederick Arthur Stanley, M.P. for Preston, for which 
town he was elected at the last general election in 
1865 ; and who recently married Lady Constance 
Yilliers, second daughter of the Earl of Clarendon. In 
addition to the above named the Earl and Countess 
had two sons and a daughter, who died in infancy. 

In the year 1826, a general election took place, 
when Mr. Hornby, Mr. Stanley’s relative, as well as 
Mr. Horrocks, his colleague, both resigned their seats 
for Preston; and as the Corporation at that time wisely 
resolved to interfere no more in their official capacity, 
with the elections, the notorious “ coalition ” to which 
we have already alluded, and which for twenty-four 
years had kept the representation of the borough 
exclusively in its hands, was at an end. The 
constituency, moreover, was now so large as not to 
be easily influenced and controlled, although, from 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 125 

the effect of old associations, there were yet large 
numbers of the inhabitants willing to vote, and shout, 
and throw up their hats for “my Lord and the 
“Corporation.” On the occasion of this election, 
Mr. Stanley resigned his seat at Stockbridge, and 
became a candidate for Preston, professing those 
same Whig principles with which his family had 
ever been identified in the representation of the 
borough. In his address to the electors he declared 
that he was not connected with any other candidate, 
and added that he was “ unassisted by any other 
" influence, and unfettered by any other connexion.” 
This election excited an unusual amount of interest 
throughout the country, and amongst other causes 
which led to this, was the notoriety of one of the 
candidates. The Eadicals introduced the noted 
politician and author, William Cobbett, who had 
frequently been imprisoned for the public expression 
of seditious language, and whom it was popularly 
thought that the “ people ” desired to see in Par¬ 
liament. The second candidate who appeared in 
the field was the late Mr. John Wood, a barrister, 
(son of Mr. Ottiwell Wood, then well known as 
a Liverpool celebrity) who was afterwards Chair¬ 
man of the Board of Inland Bevenue, and who 
was supposed to seek the suffrages of the electors 
on Liberal principles a little more advanced then 
those professed by Mr. Stanley. The other candidate, 


126 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


making four in all, was Captain Barrie, E.N"., who came 
forward in the interest of the Conservatives. The 
several candidates were thus totally distinct from, 
and independent of, each other, although it was under¬ 
stood that Mr. Wood would, to a great extent, have 
the support of Mr. Stanley’s friends. Universal 
suffrage, also then prevailed in Preston, every resident 
male adult having a vote. At that time, moreover, 
the polling extended to fifteen days, and so deter¬ 
mined was the contest that the poll was kept open 
to the last moment. Day by day, as Mr. Stanley 
continued to head the poll, with Mr. Wood, second 
on the list, the state of public feeling increased in 
intensity. Speeches were made at the close of each 
day’s voting by the several candidates, in the course 
of which Mr. Stanley and Mr. Cobbett had many 
salient encounters with each other, the latter attacking 
the former, on the ground of his aristocratic connexions, 
in terms far more expressive than polite. Mr. Cobbett’s 
language, indeed, towards Mr. Stanley, throughout 
the entire struggle, was course and vituperative, 
abounding in the most insulting epithets and allu¬ 
sions towards the Knowsley family, but the demagogue 
and then idol of the vox populi, was altogether 
unequal to the cutting and disdainful satire of the 
young Whig patrician, whose scathing denunciations 
of his jacobite antagonist, even at that early age, 
revealed his brilliant talents. The political tergiver- 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 127 

sations and inconsistencies of the great Eadical 
agitator were laid bare before the electors daily 
during the contest, in a publication called the “ Poli¬ 
tical Mountebank/’ and the manner in which 
Mr. Stanley analyzed and dissected these issues, to 
the prejudice of Mr. Cobbett, caused the latter to 
wince under the castigation, whilst it inspired feelings 
of enthusiastic admiration on the part of Mr. Stanley’s 
numerous friends and supporters. On the third day 
of the election the town was in such a state of 
excitement that the authorities became alarmed. 
The windows of the Bull Hotel, Mr. Stanley’s head¬ 
quarters, were destroyed by the mob, and in retaliation 
a similar attack was made upon the Castle and 
Waterloo Hotels, where Mr. Cobbett and Captain 
Barrie were respectively staying. The riot increasing, 
and there being every prospect of the town being- 
placed at the mercy of the populace, a detachment 
of the 1st Dragoon Guards, which was billeted at 
Kirkham, a few miles distant, was sent for, and in a 
short time the cavalry galloped into the town and 
dispersed the mob, who were then engaged in their 
work of destruction, several persons being apprehended 
and taken prisoners. 

The people, who knew that the military were at 
Kirkham, were astounded at the quick advent of the 
soldiers, but a scheme, and a very ingenious one, 
was devised, whereby to make known to them at 


128 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


Kirkham that their presence was required to suppress 
any riot. The signal was a flag, to be hoisted on the 
staff upon the church steeple, which could be distinctly 
seen at Kirkham, and an observer was placed there 
to watch, and at every five minutes to report whether 
any signal was made. The signal was given in 
Preston at ten minutes after five in the afternoon, 
and seen in Kirkham in five minutes afterwards, and 
the dragoons immediately mounted and galloped to 
Preston, where they arrived in forty minutes after 
starting, the distance being nine miles. On the 
following morning a body of foot guards came into 
the town, and the presence of the military was 
denounced by Mr. Cobbett and others as a gross 
violation of the liberty of the subject. The Preston 
Chronicle, of the 17th June, the week after the 
election, says that “ the military were sent for, not 
“ on account of these outrages, which the civil power 
“ could have coped with, but to protect the power- 
“ loom factories, information having been sworn to by 
“ some individuals that an attack was meditated upon 
“ them that evening, a fact which the great influx of 
“ the country people in the course of the day tended 
“to support. The power-looms were then being 
generally introduced, and, like all improvements in 
machinery tending to economise labour, they were 
unpopular with the masses, and there had been in 
various parts of the country riots and destruction of 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 129 


these machines, where millowners had commenced 
working with them. At length, on the fifteenth day, 
being the full time allowed by law, this memorable 
contest was brought to a close, when Mr. Stanley and 
Mr. Wood were elected, the former by an over¬ 
whelming majority, the numbers being, for Mr. Stanley, 
2,944; Wood, 1,974; Barrie, 1,653; Cobbett, 995. 

The year after his election for Preston, in April, 
1827, Mr. Stanley joined the administration then 
formed by Mr. Canning. Mr. Robinson, afterwards 
Lord Goderich, filled the office of Chief Secretary for 
the Colonies in that government, and Mr. Stanley 
was appointed L T nder Secretary. The Premier’s la¬ 
mented death in four months after the formation of his 
ministry, led to a reconstruction of the cabinet. 
Lord Goderich being appointed Premier. He was 
succeeded in his office as Chief Secretary for the 
Colonies, by the Right Hon. William Huskisson, 
Mr. Stanley retaining his position as Under Secretary 
during the brief period of that ministry’s existence. 

At the commencement of 1828—for the ministry 
only retained office for a period of about five months 
—the Duke of Wellington’s government was formed, 
and the Tory party, headed by the “ Iron Duke,” 
with Sir Robert Peel as his lieutenant, held the 
reins of power until the close of 1830. 

Mr. Stanley, who, during this last-named period, 
was in the ranks of the Opposition, distinguished 


130 


THE STANLEYS OF KN OWSLEY. 


himself on several occasions by his eloquent advocacy 
of the various measures then proposed by Earl Grey, 
and the other great Whig leaders, and his speeches 
in favour of Catholic emancipation, the repeal of the 
Test and Corporation Acts, Parliamentary Reform, 
and other great liberal measures, established for him 
a reputation as one of the most rising young 
statesmen of the day. In July, 1830, the death of 
George the Fourth led to a dissolution of Parliament, 
when Mr. Stanley again presented himself as a 
candidate at Preston, along with his colleague 
Mr. Wood. On this occasion there was no opposition 
to the re-election of the late members, with the 
exception of Mr. Henry Hunt, the blacking manu¬ 
facturer, and great Radical, of Peterloo notoriety. He 
retired, however, on the fourth day of polling, the 
numbers being, for Mr. Stanley, 2,998 ; Wood, 2,489 ; 
Hunt, 1,308; Mr. Stanley and Mr. Wood having 
thus been re-elected. 

The result of the general election on the occasion 
of the King’s death, strengthened the hands of the 
Whig and Reform party, and led to the downfall of 
the Wellington-Peel administration, on the 20th of 
November ; when Earl Grey was sent for by King 
William, and his Majesty entrusted to the then leader 
of the great Whig party, the formation of a new 
ministry. In that administration, Mr. Stanlev was 
included, his eminent services to the Whigs being 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 


131 


acknowledged by liis appointment to the highly res¬ 
ponsible office of Chief Secretary for Ireland. Having 
so accepted office, lie vacated bis seat for Preston, and 
again presented himself for re-election. This was the 
most memorable event appertaining to Mr. Stanley’s 
election experiences, and unexpectedly severed bis 
political connexion witb Preston. In a few days after 
bis address bad been issued, tlie friends and supporters 
of Mr. Hunt, the extreme Radical, again put forward 
bis name ; but Mr. Stanley’s committee looked upon 
the opposition without any feelings of apprehension 
as to the safety of the right honourable gentleman’s 
seat. At the close of the first day’s polling, however, 
Mr. Stanley’s committee were astounded to find Mr. 
Hunt in a considerable majority, the numbers being 
for Mr. Hunt, 1204; for Mr. Stanley, 791. The 
second and third day’s polling increased, although 
slightly, Mr. Hunt’s majority, and the excitement of 
the contest had now risen to such a pitch as to have 
extended far beyond the boundaries of the borough. 
Day after day the town was crowded with large 
numbers of operatives and others from the different 
manufacturing districts of Lancashire, whose sympa¬ 
thies were enlisted on behalf of the extreme Radical 
candidate. The Huntites had monster processions 
every day, accompanied by numerous large banners, 
flags, and bands of music; these processions usually 
taking place in the evening, between the hours of 


132 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


seven and ten o’clock, when a number of burning 
tar barrels were introduced into the procession, 
illuminating the public thoroughfares in the dark¬ 
ness of the night. The authorities appeared 
powerless to restrain the reckless enthusiasm of the 
populace, and for the time the latter might almost be 
said to have had possession of the town. Mr* 
Hunt’s speeches to the mob abounded in the most 
violent and intemperate language towards Mr. Stanley 
and the classes he represented, which had the 
effect of still further increasing the great excitement 
that prevailed. Mr. Hunt’s majority was considera¬ 
bly reduced during the subsequent days of the polling, 
but still he kept at the head of the poll, and his 
friends appeared determined, at all hazards, that he 
should be elected, for at the polling booth they com¬ 
menced a system of intimidation, and resorted to other 
obstructive measures which prevented numbers of 
Mr. Stanley’s supporters from recording their votes. 
Mr. Nicholas Grimsliaw, a very warm Tory, was mayor 
of the borough at the time, and the feeling of partizan- 
ship, as against Mr. Stanley, which he displayed 
during the whole of the contest, excited intense 
indignation in the town, and caused his worship to 
become very unpopular with the middle and respecta¬ 
ble classes.* On several days during the election, 

* The following satirical lines on the conduct of the mayor were 
published, and freely circulated during the contest: 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 133 

Mr. Stanley’s committee, seeing that Mr. Hunt’s 
friends had forcible possession of the booths, appealed 
for his worship’s interference, but he declined to 
comply with the request. At the election of July, 
1830, in accordance with an act passed in 1828, 
limiting the election to eight days, the Corn Exchange, 
where the election took place, was divided into ten 
voting booths, and each booth was apportioned to one 
of the ten districts into which, for parochial purposes, 
the town was divided. This arrangement Mr. Nicholas 
Grimshaw, the mayor, refused to adopt at the present 
election, allowing the voters to poll at whichever booth 
they might choose, and there being thus a less check on 
fraudulent votes, large numbers were tendered and 
received. It was abundantly proved that hundreds of 
non-residents voted for Mr. Hunt on the occasion, and 
in one case it was ascertained beyond doubt that a man 
from Blackburn, voted for Mr. Hunt 13 times! It would, 

“ By many ’twas said, a few years ago, 

That the d-1 came up from the regions below ! 

As he thought ’twould he better on earth to reside, 

He fix’d upon Preston, so fam’d for its pride. 

“ And for many years this father of evil 

By all was politely addressed as the d-1; 

But lately lie play’d them a slippery trick, 

And he’s now better known by the name of ‘ Old Nick.’ 

“ And so for a time, perhaps, ’twill continue : 

But Preston, oh! Preston ! the d-l’s still in you! 

’Tis thought times will change, and the people grow civil. 

And ‘ Old Nick’ again, may return to the d-1.” 





134 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


perhaps, be idle to deny that, amidst the reckless disre¬ 
gard of order, and the saturnalia which prevailed, several 
fictitious votes were also given for Mr. Stanley, but that 
he was defeated mainly by non-resident voters has 
never been questioned. After seven days’ voting the seat 
was given to Mr. Hunt, the numbers being—for Mr. 
Hunt, 3,730, and for Mr. Stanley, 3,392 ; the political 
connexion of the Stanley family with Preston, which 
had existed for so many years, being thus suddenly 
and unexpectedly severed. Satisfied of the undue in¬ 
fluences which had been used against him, and of the 
illegal character of the voting, Mr. Stanley threatened 
to have a scrutiny of the votes at the close of the poll, 
before the return was made, the returning officer 
at that time having the power of deciding as to 
the validity of votes so objected to. Arrangements 
were made for this purpose, and Mr. Sergeant Mere- 
weather came down to conduct it on behalf of Mr. 
Stanley, but, after three days’ preparation, it was 
abandoned. The result was deeply mortifying to Mr. 
Stanley himself, and not less to the whole of the 
Knowsley family, who evinced their sense of the slight 
by withdrawing all their patronage and influence from 
the town, which severely felt the separation.* The 

* The following lines were published and circulated after the 
election :— 

“ Oh ! Preston, Preston, once the proud, 

Hast thou not now proclaim’d aloud— 

In honour thou art lacking ? 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 


135 


then Earl of Derby, twelfth Earl (and grandfather to the 
present Earl) who. as we have already stated, as well 
as the eleventh Earl and other members of the family, 
was born in Preston, keenly felt the blow, and in a 
short time after the close of the contest, the windows 
of Patton-house, in Clmrcli-street, the family mansion 
in Preston, were blocked up, and all the attendants 
withdrawn, giving to the otherwise noble building 
a desolate and dismal appearance; the races, also, 
which the family had warmly patronized, they no 
longer supported, which caused them to be discon¬ 
tinued, and generally the Stanleys withdrew them¬ 
selves from all association with the town. 

Mr. Stanley left Preston much chagrined and 
dispirited, having just been appointed to a highly 
responsible post in the new government, but now with- 

Reject the noble Stanley’s son, 

And let thy choice be fix’d upon 

A blackguai’d son of blacking! 

“ Oh! Preston, Preston, shame to thee ! 

Thou’st stamped thy name with infamy ; 

Thy glory is departed. 

Thy honour in the dust is laid ! 

A bye-word and a scoff thou’rt made 
By all that’s noble-hearted. 

“Oh! Preston, not yet quantum suf. 

To make thyself quite black enough, 

And prove that thou art barren ! 

In all that’s counted great and good, 

Thou’st only now to turn out Wood, 

And bring in Robert Warren !” 


136 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


out a seat in the House of Commons. His colleagues 
in the new ministry, however, felt that the influence 
of his powerful oratory was required, and must he 
provided for in the coming debates on the Reform 
Bill, and Sir Hussey Vivian, then member for Windsor, 
gave up his seat in favour of Mr. Stanley, who was at 
once returned for the royal borough. 

In the debates which took place on the Reform 
Bill, in 1831, Mr. Stanley, although not in the 
cabinet, was one of the most powerful and influential 
speakers in favour of the government measure; and 
perhaps one of the most eloquent speeches which he 
ever delivered in the course of his parliamentary 
career, was that which he made on the evening of 
Friday, the 4th of March, during the adjourned debate 
on the second reading, when he answered, amongst 
other members who had attacked the bill, the late 
Sir Robert Peel, who had spoken the previous evening. 
His irony and sarcasm were chiefly directed against 
Sir Robert, whose speech he mercilessly analysed and 
dissected. Almost at the outset of his remarks, he 
said :—“ I feel that I labour under extraordinary 
“ difficulties in addressing the House at the present 
“ moment, because I shall consider it my duty to call 
“ its attention to some portions of that commanding 
“ and powerful, I had almost said convincing speech, 
“ to which the House listened with so much attention 
“ at the conclusion of last night’s debate; and, in the 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 137 

“ observations which I shall make upon the right 
“ honourable baronet’s address, I trust it is unneces- 
“ sary for me to assure the right honourable gentle- 
“ man, as that right honourable gentleman has assured 
“ the noble lords and right honourable gentlemen on 
“ the ministerial side of the House, that I enter upon 
<c the discussion with no hostile or angry feelings 
“ towards the right honourable baronet, for there is 
“ no man in the House of whose talents, ability, and 
“ integrity, I have a higher opinion.” 

After expressing his regret that Sir Robert’s 
opinions on the question of Reform were so directly 
opposed to those of his Majesty’s ministers, he sarcas¬ 
tically added, “ I have, however, had the satisfaction 
“ of seeing the opinions of the right honourable baro- 
“ net gradually change on one great question, and 
“ should the present ministers succeed in this measure, 
“ I trust that an experience of its beneficial effects 
■“ will reconcile the right honourable baronet to that 
“ which he now contemplates with a feeling of 
“ anxiety and disapprobation.” After taunting the 
right honourable baronet with having stated that if 
any danger or public disaffection should arise from 
the failure of the measure, the responsibility must be 
thrown on the shoulders of the ministry who had 
brought it forward, and not on those who opj^osed it, 
Mr. Stanley said, “ I, however, will contend that the 
“responsibility must rest with those on the other 


138 


THE STANLEYS OF KXOWSLEY. 


“ side of the House, who could not go on with the 
“government, because they were disposed to resist 
“all Eeform. If those gentlemen, who, in place, 
“resisted all efficient Reform, and who went out 
“ because they would not agree to it, though it was 
“ loudly called for hv the people—if they afterwards 
“endeavour to baffle the efforts of those who have 
“succeeded them—who are anxious for the success 
“ of a measure of Reform—if they strive to baffle and 
“ embarrass those who came in bound and pledged 
“ to Parliamentary Reform, then the right honourable 
“ baronet and his friends must take upon themselves 
“ the responsibility that will attach to the loss and 
“ defeat of the great measure. But the right lionour- 
“ able baronet says, ‘ Why has government brought it 
“ ‘ forward ? It is a bad time, and it ought not to be 
“ •' introduced now.’ In answer to this I ask, what 
“was the conditional pledge upon which ministers 
“ came in, and without which mv noble friend and 
“ right honourable friends near me would not have 
“ accepted office ? It was that we would bring for- 
“ ward a measure of Reform. Xow, with this pledge 
“on our lips—with those principles in our hearts 
“ which we have always maintained, we entered office. 
“ We appeared as the friends of Parliamentary Re- 
“ form, hoping, as we yet do, to have the public feeling 
“ with us when we propose a measure on that subject, 
“and what is the kind advice which, under these 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 139 

“ circumstances, tlie right honourable baronet gives 
“ us ? He says, ‘ How that you are in office, tell the 
“‘ people that the time is not convenient for Reform/ 
“ If the ministers acted on such a principle as that, 
“ then, indeed, a fearful responsibility would rest 
“ upon their shoulders. Dreadful would be the con- 
“ sequences arising from disappointed hopes and high 
“raised expectations blighted and falsified by the 
“ mean conduct of those upon whom the people had 
“ relied! Procrastination in these cases is always 
“ mischievous, and the late government might have 
“ learnt an important lesson from the consequences 
“ of delay in carrying the Catholic question.” After 
defending the Ministers and the Reform Bill for a 
considerable length of time, amidst the breathless 
attention of the House, Mr. Stanley in continuation 
remarked, “ But then, it is said that the measure is 
“ revolutionary. To this it is scarcely necessary for 
“ me to urge more in reply than a mere denial of any 
“such object on the part of those who have intro- 
“duced it, I may observe, however, that I am not 
“ likely to be a party to any measure of that kind. 
“ Is my noble friend, who introduced the measure to 
“ the House, a man without any stake in the country ? 
“ Is not the name he bears in itself a guarantee 
“ against any such intention ? Is my noble friend, 
“ the noble Earl at the head of the government—he 
“ who is said to be strenuously attached to the pri- 


140 


THE STANLEYS OF KXOWSLEY. 


“ vileges of liis order—who lias, on more than one 
“ occasion, been made the object of attack on that 
“ ground—is he, I repeat, likely to advocate a mea- 
“ sure which is to involve those privileges, and to 
“ involve the monarchy in one common ruin ? Look 
“ around at the other members of his Majesty’s 
“ government, and of those who have come forward 
“ to support them on this occasion, are they men of 
“ no fortune, mere adventurers, who would have 
“ everything to gain, and nothing to lose by a revo- 
“ lution ? Or are they not men who have large 
“ stakes in the country, and whose individual interests 
“ are bound up with the permanent peace and security 
“ of the state ? What, then, could they gain by the 
“ chance medley of a revolution ? ” The right 
honourable gentleman concluded this celebrated and 
powerful speech with the following brilliant perora¬ 
tion : “ I earnestly implore honourable members, by 
“ their sense of justice to the country, by their respect 
“ to what is due to the people, by their regard for 
“ the maintenance of that glorious constitution which 
“has been handed down to us by our ancestors— 
“ [great cheering on the Opposition side]—I repeat that 
“ constitution which ministers are now endeavouring, 
“ not to violate, but to amend,—by their regard for 
“ the permanency of our institutions, and the peace 
“ and security of the state,—I call on them by all 
“ these considerations, by their respect for the peti- 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 141 

“ tions of-the people, for wliat may be lawfully asked, 
“ and cannot be constitutionally refused—to support 
“ his Majesty’s ministers in their endeavours to 
“uphold and cement the legitimate rights of the 
“ Crown, the aristocracy, and the people, and by so 
“ doing, to fix the whole, as well as their own fame, 
“ on the imperishable basis of the affections of the 
“ people.” Mr. Stanley frequently spoke on the 
measure afterwards, and finally wound up the several 
protracted discussions which took place on the bill. 

Upon Mr. Stanley devolved, as Chief Secretary 
for Ireland, the duty of introducing into the House of 
Commons the various measures connected with that 
country, and unhappily at the time he took office, a 
strong feeling of discontent existed there, which 
manifested itself in open sedition. Disturbances and 
rioting were of daily occurrence in several parts of the 
country, and, repressive measures being necessary, the 
“ Irish Coercion Bill ” was introduced into Parliament, 
Mr. Stanley having the bill in charge. Mr. O’Connell, 
who was at that time in the zenith of his power, and 
held almost unchallenged sway over the great bulk of 
the Irish people, was a deadly enemy to the govern¬ 
ment of which Mr. Stanley was a member. He was 
in the habit of denouncing Earl Grey and his col¬ 
leagues as the “base, bloody, and brutal wliigs;” and 
Mr. Stanley came under the especial lash of the arch 
Irish agitator, his coercion bill being fiercely and 


142 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


violently attacked by O’Connell, and Mr. Stanley 
himself being denounced in the House as “ Scorpion 
Stanley; ” but although “the Liberator ’ ’ was so constantly 
singling out Mr. Stanley as his chief object of attack, he 
was often heard to say that there was no member of the 
House whose withering and eloquent satire he more 
felt than that of his antagonist. Notwithstanding the 
opposition of O’Connell, and those who acted with 
him, Mr. Stanley’s firmness and powerful reasoning 
convinced the House that the measure, exceptional 
as it was, was necessary, and the Irish Coercion Bill 
became law. The passing of this measure increased 
—if indeed that were possible—the bitter feeling of 
hostility which Mr. O’Connell, Mr. Sheil, and other 
Irish members entertained towards Mr. Stanley, and 
from that period until the year 1833, when he 
resigned the office of Chief Secretary for Ireland and 
became Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, 
lie was unceasingly denounced as the greatest enemy 
of the sister country. But throughout the whole of 
the stormy debates which took place during the 
period, Mr. Stanley, by his perfect self-possession, his 
matchless powers as an orator and debater, and his 
withering sarcasm, proved himself more than equal 
to his antagonists, who, feeling themselves over¬ 
powered and vanquished by his extraordinary powers 
of invective, at length began to utter complaints to 
the House of the right hon. gentleman’s intolerable 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 143 

pride and hauteur, which elicited from Sir Robert 
Peel a scornful and crushing reply, in the course of 
which he said, “ Often have I heard the right lion. 

y 

“gentleman taunted with his aristocratic demeanour. 

“ I rather think I should hear fewer complaints upon 
“ that score if he were a less powerful opponent in 
“ debate.” The measures which Mr. Stanley was 
instrumental in carrying for the amelioration of the 
condition of Ireland, during the time he held the 
office of Chief Secretary, are in themselves evidence 
that the charges preferred against him by Mr. O’Connell 
and others, were altogether undeserved, and prove 
moreover, that his opponents at the time referred to, 
both in and out of Parliament, had not studied 
Ireland and her people so deeply and so closely as 
at the period when lie was Irish Secretary, Mr. 
Stanley did; and as the following extract from the 
British and Foreign Review , for April, 1837 , bears X 
upon the class of objectors referred to, we give it 
at length as an appropriate accompaniment to this part 
of our sketch :— 

“ When,” says the reviewer, “ the Duke of Welling- 
“ ton and Sir Robert Peel yielded to necessity 
“ the measure of emancipation which they had 
“denied to justice, they taught Ireland a lesson of 
“ agitation, which she put into immediate practice, 
“and continues to use with increasing energy and 
“ dangerous efficiency to this hour. The most stirring 


144 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“question that could address itself to the national 
“passions, a Repeal of the Union with all its associa¬ 
tions of domestic independence was put forward. 
“At this crisis Mr. Stanley was appointed Chief 
“Secretary for Ireland. He had filled for a short 
“ time, some subordinate office in the Colonial 
“ department, most likely as a preparatory exercise 
“ for official business, and gave proof thus early of 
“ qualities which he has since more prominently 
“ displayed—diligence, dispatch, a promptitude of 
“ decision, all hut precipitate, and a fearless self- 
“ reliance all but rash. He appeared to enter upon 
“ the duties of his office, as much from a love of labour 
“ as from political ambition, or a desire of fame. It 
“ was remarked by all persons who approached him 
“ during his official career, that when the data for 
“ forming an opinion were placed before him he saw 
“their effect at a glance, however complicated or 
“ minute, and his conclusions were generally as just 
“ as they were rapid. It has been charged as a fault 
“ upon his practice as a minister, or in the constitution 
“ of his mind, that he applied himself over much to 
“ details, and would examine with his own eye the 
“ most minute points. Attention to particulars was 
“not a fault but an advantage, to one whose con¬ 
clusions were so decisive, and those who imagine 
“ that this habit of mind is inconsistent with general 
“ principles and comprehensive views fall into a great 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 145 


“ error. Few men have been known to attain the 
“ exercise and the reputation of accomplished and 
“ superior talents in debate within so short a period. 
“ He manifested at the very outset not only the 
“ prompt facilities, but the severe task of a 
“master of the art. The ambitious ornaments of 
“ rhetoric, the flights of imagination, and affectation 
“of the figurative, that false brilliant which is so 
“ alluring to youthful orators, never for an instant 
“dazzled the ill-judging, or offended the judicious, in 
“ his speeches. The vigour of his mind was only the 
“ more advantageously exhibited, from the unadorned 
“ simplicity of his language. His speeches on subjects 
“ on which he might naturally be supposed to come to 
“the House prepared, have the air of being unpremedita- 
“ ted, while those produced at the call of the moment, 
“from the felicity and force of his diction, and his 
“ instinctive facility of method and order in his topics 
“ and arguments, have the appearance of elaborate 
“ composition. As an opponent he is formidable and 
“vigilant, quick to observe and dexterous to profit 
“ by an advantage; no one follows up success with 
“ more pitiless force, or embarrasses more effectually 
“ where he cannot distinctly refute; at the same time 
“ his oratory like his character is wholly free from 
“ the disingenuous and petty. He does not bring to 
“ his aid the graces of literature, or the more popular 
“ endowments of wit and pleasantry, but his reading 


146 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“is manifest wherever it is necessary to cite the 
“ events of history or the authority of the wise, and 
“there is no one whose derision and sarcasm are at 
“ once more withering and polite. He does not 
“ affect the forms of logic, hut has that better and 
“ less palpable art of reasoning which is called 
“ dialecticks, and exercises it with vigour and adroit - 
“ness. It may be added, as action is an essential 
“accomplishment in an orator, that his attitude is 
“ manly, free, and apparently unstudied or unthought 
“ of, his gestures impressive and graceful without art.” 

In 1832, on the elevation of his father to the 
peerage, he succeeded him as representative for the 
northern division of Lancashire. During the same 
year his great talents as an orator and debater, 
materially assisted in carrying the Beform Bill, and 
in the same session of Parliament he had the satisfac¬ 
tion of introducing, and carrying successfully through 
the legislature, the first great measure of National 
Education for Ireland, which has been attended with 
such advantageous results. In the session of 1833 he 
also brought into Parliament and carried the Irish 
Church Temporalities Bill, the effect of which was 
to do away with certain abuses connected with the 
revenues of the church, and to place them upon a 
more equitable footing; and which had also the effect 
of reducing the number of Irish bishops. With the 
passing of this measure his connexion with Ireland in 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 147 

an official capacity ceased, and lie accepted tlie office 
of Secretary of State for tlie Colonies, thus for the first 
time becoming a Cabinet Minister. 

Almost his first step, if indeed it was not actually 
his first, after entering the cabinet, was to introduce 
a bill providing for the emancipation of the West 
Indian slaves, a measure of the gravest importance 
to the West Indian planters, and not only so, hut 
what was of still greater consequence, when viewed 
in its moral and social aspect, it aimed at wiping out 
the disgrace which had hitherto attached to this 
country, that of permitting if not encouraging the 
traffic in human flesh. The bill was introduced on 
the 14tli of May, 1833, and after being carefully 
discussed and considered it finally received the 
sanction of Parliament. Mr. Stanley, in introducing 
the bill, made one of the most eloquent and effective 
speeches ever delivered within the walls of Parliament. 
In the course of this splendid oration the right lion, 
gentlemen said:— 

“ The present question involves interests greater, 
“ consequences more momentous, results more porten- 
“ tous, than any which were ever submitted to the 
“ British or other legislature. A commerce giving 
“ employment now to 250,000 tons of shipping, a 
“ revenue of £500,000, and an export of equal amount, 
“ is here to be dealt with. But what are these 
“ pecuniary interests, great as they are, to the moral 


148 


THE STANLEYS OF KXOWSLEY. 


“ and social consequences at stake, the freedom of 
“ 800,000 of our own, and many millions of foreign 
“slaves; the emancipation and happiness of generations 
“ yet unborn; the ultimate destiny of almost a moiety 
“ of the human race, which is wound up with this 
“ question ? Vast, almost awful as are the interests 
“ involved in this question, and the difficulties with 
“ which it is beset, its settlement can no longer be 
“ delayed. We have arrived at a point where delay 
“is more perilous than decision. We have only the 
“ choice left of doing some good at the least risk of 
“ effecting evil. We are called upon to legislate 
“ between conflicting parties, one deeply interested by 
“ pecuniary interests, and by difficulties ever pressing 
“ and still increasing; the other still more deeply 
“ interested by their feelings and opinions, and 
“ representing a growing determination on the part of 
“ the people of this country, at once to put an end to 
“ slavery ; a determination the more absolute and the 
“ less irresistible, that it is founded in sincere 
“ religious feelings, and in a solemn conviction that 
“ things wrong in principle cannot be expedient in 
“ practice. The time is gone by when the question 
“ can for a moment be entertained whether or not 
“ the system of slavery can be made perpetual; the 
“ only point left for discussion is the safest, happiest 
“ way of effecting its entire abolition.” 

But, although Mr. Stanley had thus been associa- 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 149 

ted with the Whigs in passing some of the most impor¬ 
tant liberal and constitutional measures which were 
ever introduced into Parliament, the Eeform Bill being 
the chief, his connexion with the great Whig party 
was now about to terminate. Events occurred between 
the close of the session of 1833 and the commencement 
of that of 1834, which were destined to cause a 
separation between Mr. Stanley and his colleagues. 
He had already, as we have seen, brought in and 
carried the Irish Church Temporalities Bill, and so 
far as the disposal of the revenues of the Irish Church 
were concerned, he did not think they ought to be 
further disturbed. But, in the early part of the 
session of 1834, it was proposed in the cabinet again 
to interfere with the Irish Church establishment, by 
diminishing still further its revenues. Accordingly 
it was understood that the “ Irish Church Appropria¬ 
tion Bill ” was introduced into the cabinet, whereupon 
Mr. Stanley declined to be a party to the measure, 
and, in consequence of its having been brought 
forward, he seceded from the government, resigning 
his office as Colonial Secretary, and being accompanied 
in his retirement from the ministry by Sir Janies 
Graham, first Lord of the Admiralty; the Earl of Papon, 
Lord Privy Seal; and the Duke of Richmond, 
Postmaster-General. On the retirement of Mr. 
Stanley and his colleagues, O’Connell caused much 
amusement and laughter in the house by quoting from 


150 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


Canning’s well known “ Loves of the Triangles/’ which 
appeared in the pages of the Anti- Jacobin, the lines:— 

“ Still down thy steep, romantic Ashbourne, glides 

“ The Derby Dilly with its six insides.” 

On Monday, the 2nd of June, 1834, a few days after 
his secession from the ministry, Mr. Stanley spoke 
warmly, and at great length, against the proposal Mr. 
Ward, the member for St. Albans, had brought for¬ 
ward, a motion to the effect that as the amount of 
church property in Ireland was beyond the wants and 
requirements of the Protestant Church establishment, 
the Irish Church revenues should be reduced, and 
the money appropriated to the purposes of general 
education. Lord Altliorp, who was Chancellor of the 
Exchequer at the time, on the evening of the 2nd of 
June, when the adjourned debate on Mr. Ward’s 
motion came on, stated that the King, by the advice 
of his ministers, had appointed a commission of en¬ 
quiry into the state of church property, and church 
affairs generally in Ireland, with the view among 
other things, of ascertaining the relative numbers of 
Protestants, Roman Catholics, and Dissenters in the 
several parishes ; and the noble Lord stated, in the 
course of his remarks, that it was the intention of the 
government to act upon the report of that commission. 
Pie concluded by moving, as an amendment to Mr. 
Ward’s motion, the previous question. Mr. Stanley 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 151 


followed in an oration of great power and fervour, and 
concluded a speech against both the motion and the 
appointment of the commission, with the following 
splendid peroration :— 

“ Let me call upon you to pause before you assent to a 
u resolution which you cannot, which you ought not, 
“ which the people of England will not let you, carry into 
“ effect. I did not think I should ever live to hear a 
“ minister of the crown propose such a resolution : I do 
“ not think that I shall yet live to see a legislature which 
“ will pass it; and I am not certain that I know the sove- 
“ reign who will give his assent to it even if it he passed. 
u I have honestly and conscientiously gone the full length 
“ to which I am prepared to go in reforming the abuses of 
“the Church,—I say the abuses of the Church, for I 
“ admit there are questions regarding pluralities, regarding 
“ non-residence, regarding the internal discipline of the 
<l Church, regarding its purification and amendment, re- 
“ garding the increased respectability of its ministers, and 
“ regarding the better distribution of its revenues for 
u Church purposes, to which we are hound to give imme- 
“ diate attention ; hut the question of the appropriation of 
“ the property of the Church to any other hut Church 
u purposes involves principles to which I, for one, can 
u never give my assent. In concert with no man save 
those noble and honourable individuals who have acted 
“ upon the principles which I have just explained to the 
44 House, pursuing the course which my own sense of 
“ honour and public duty points out to me; desirous of 


152 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ cautioning the House not to assent to an abstract resolu- 
“ tion of this nature, without knowing at what time, by 
“ what means, and by what men it is to be carried into 
“ effect; prepared on my own behalf to put a decided 
“ negative upon it, yet prevented from doing so by the 
“reasons which I have already stated ; anxious not to 
“ draw down upon myself, and upon those who have on 
“ this occasion acted with me, the responsibility of endan- 
“ gering, by taking a different course than that marked 
“ out by the government, the passing of that amendment 
“ which all parties in the House seem equally to deprecate; 
“ desirous, I repeat, of not seeing this resolution carried 
“ into effect; confident that, without danger to both 
“ countries, it cannot be carried into effect, I am compelled 
“ to agree to the amendment of my noble friend, the 
“previous question.” 

It has already been shewn that on Irish questions 
especially there had always been a bitter spirit of 
antagonism displayed between Mr. Stanley and Mr. 
O’Connell, but upon the present occasion, the latter 
generously admitted the perfect sincerity of the right 
honourable gentleman; for, in a speech delivered 
almost immediately after Mr. Stanley had resumed 
his seat, he said, adverting to the right honourable 
gentleman’s resignation: — 

O O 

“ I think his policy most erroneous; I think he 
“ has pursued a course of most pernicious measures 
“ to my country. I think he has swamped the govern- 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 153 

“ ment on its commencement; but T see in him an 
“ inflexible integrity of purpose; I behold him 
"faithful and true to his principles, bold and manly 
“ in the avowal of his opinions, able and eloquent in 
“ the vindication of them, high in his sense of honour, 
“ and firm, indeed, and disinterested in the assertion 
“ of that which he thinks to be the sacred duty of 
“ conscience.” 

The commission announced by Lord Altliorp 
was not carried out, for the government, which had 
been reconstructed, with Lord Melbourne at its head, 
Earl Grey having resigned, went out of office in 
November, and was succeeded by a ministry with 
Sir Robert Peel at its head, the Duke of Wellington 
holding the reins of government temporarily for 
three weeks, until the arrival home from the 
Continent of Sir Robert Peel. Mr. Stanley was 
invited by Sir Robert to join the government, but he 
declined to do so. The Peel ministry, however, only 
existed for about three months, Sir Robert throwing 
up the reins of government in April, 1835, after 
beiim defeated at the general election which followed 
upon his acceptance of office. Lord Melbourne was thus 
again called to the helm, and the Whigs were in the 
ascendant from 1835 to 1841, when they were 
defeated on the budget, Mr. Stanley who had for several 
years acted with the Conservative party, having 
spoken against the budget, which he attacked in one 


154 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


of those withering speeches for which he had now 
become celebrated and famous. 

On the defeat and resignation of Lord Melbourne’s 
administration in 1841, Sir Bobert Peel was again 
called in, and on the 3rd of September he formed his 
second administration, Mr. Stanley joining the new 
government as Secretary of State for the Colonies, 
the same office which he had already filled in the 
ministry of Earl Grey. It was during Sir Bobert’s 
administration, namely, in 1844, that Mr. Stanley 
was summoned to the House of Peers under his 
father’s barony, as Lord Stanley of Bickerstaffe, and 
'f from that period to the present his lordship has 
undoubtedly been accepted as the Conservative leader 
in the upper chamber of the legislature. The Peel 
administration, led in the Commons by the Premier, 
and in the Peers by Lord Stanley, was for many 
years a strong and vigorous government, with a 
powerful majority in the House of Commons, the 
Premier and Lord Stanley working harmoniously 
together; but in 1845, Sir Bobert, who had hitherto 
been a Protectionist, declared his conversion to the 
principles of free trade, and this ultimately led to a 
separation between the Premier and Lord Stanley, the 
latter steadfastly adhering to those Protectionist prin¬ 
ciples which he had uniformly and consistently held. 
In December, 1845, at Christmas, Sir Bobert Peel 
resigned the seals of office, and Lord John Bussell 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 155 

knowing that lie himself was in a minority in the 
House, advised the Queen to send for Lord Stanley as 
the leader of the Protectionist party, but his lordship 
declined, on which Lord John Russell, then in a 
minority in the Commons, undertook the duty of 
forming a ministry, which, however, only existed for 
three weeks. On the dissolution of Lord John 
Russell’s government, Sir Robert Peel was again sent 
for, and at the commencement of 1846 re-constructed 
his government on the avowed principles of free 
trade, and a repeal of the Corn Laws. Lord Stanley, 
firm to his Protectionist principles, did not return to 
office, but in conjunction with Mr. Disraeli and the 
late Lord George Bentinck, resolutely opposed the 
free trade policy of the Premier in those memorable 
debates which preceded the repeal of the Corn Laws. 
The final result of this great struggle is easily told— 
the Corn Laws were repealed, and the principles of 
free trade from that moment prevailed, the Premier 
openly and candidly declaring to the House that the 
issue was entirely due to “ the unadorned eloquence 
of Richard Cobden.” 

After the passing of the act repealing the Corn 
Laws, Sir Robert Peel, in the summer of 1846, threw 
up the seals of office, and a Whig government, 
presided over by Lord John Russell, once more 
ruled the destinies of the country, extending over 
five years, from 1846 to 1852. During the whole of 


156 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


this period Lord Stanley was at the head of the 
Conservative Opposition, and in the course of those 
years he displayed his fine oratorical abilities in 
several speeches which he made on the question 
of the Irish Poor Laws, and other subjects 
affecting Ireland, including the deplorable affair at 
Dolly’s Brae; together with an eloquent and ex¬ 
haustive speech on the complications which at 
that time existed in Greece. In 1851 Lord Stanley 
was again offered the Premiership, Lord John 
Russell's government having resigned in consequence 
of their unexpected defeat in February of that year, by 
a majority of forty-eight, on Mr. Locke King’s motion 
for an extention of the county franchise. For a second 
time Lord Stanley declined the proffered honour, 
and gave his reasons for doing so in his place in the 
House of Lords, on Friday, 28tli of February. On 
Lord Stanley thus refusing to take the reins of 
Government, Lord John Russell returned to his post, 
and remained Premier until 1852. On the 20tli of Feb¬ 
ruary in that year, Lord Palmerston moved an amend¬ 
ment on the Militia Bill brought forward by the govern¬ 
ment, which was carried, and the ministry resigned. 

Lord Derby—for he had then succeeded to the 
earldom, his father having died in June, 1851—was 
now, for the third time, solicited to form an adminis¬ 
tration, when he accepted the task, and having com¬ 
pleted his arrangements and formed his government. 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 157 

lie made his fir&t?Mnisterial statement in the House 
of Lords, on the 27th of February, concluding in the 
following eloquent and characteristic terms :—“ Be the 
“ period of my administration longer or shorter, not 
“ only shall I have attained the highest object of my 
“ ambition, hut I shall have fulfilled one of the highest 
“ ends of human being, if, in the course of that admin- 
“ istration, I can in the slightest degree advance the 
“ great object of peace on earth and good-will among 
“ men ; if I can advance the social, moral, and reli- 
“ gious improvement of my country, and, at the same 
“ time, contribute to the safety, honour, and welfare of 
“ our sovereign and her dominions.” The majority of 
the House of Commons, at the time of Lord Derby’s 
advent to office, was decidedly hostile to a Conserva¬ 
tive government, and, therefore little beyond routine 
business took place during the following spring and 
summer, the Premier having determined to dissolve 
the Parliament and test the feeling of the country. 
The dissolution took place on the 1st of July, and the 
result of the general election was adverse to the 
government, which was shortly afterwards shewn on 
the assembling of the new Parliament. On the 16th of 
December in the same year, the ministry was defeated 
on their budget, after four nights’ discussion, by a 
majority of nineteen, on which Lord Derby instantly 
placed his resignation in the hands of her Majesty, 
which was at once accepted. 



158 


THE STANLEYS OF KXOWSLEY. 


On the resignation of tlie Earl of Derby, the Earl 
of Aberdeen, at the head of the “ ministry of all 
talents,” as it was somewhat satirically called, suc¬ 
ceeded to office, but breaking down in the following 
year—1853, the Earl of Derby was a fourth time sent 
for by her Majesty, but declined to resume office on 
the very reasonable plea that the majority of the 
House of Commons was antagonistic to him. Lord 
Palmerston then succeeded to the premiership, which 
he retained until 1858, when he was defeated by an 
adverse vote of nineteen, on the conspiracy Bill, 
and his policy towards France. It is a most 
remarkable circumstance, and altogether without 
a parallel, that three governments in succession 
should have been defeated by the same numerical 
majority, and two of them on the same day and 
month in the year. Lord John Russell’s govern¬ 
ment was beaten on the 20th of February, 1852, by a 
majority of nineteen; the Earl of Derby’s first ministry 
was defeated on the 16th of December in the same 
year, by a majority of nineteen; and on the 20th of 
February, 1858, Lord Palmerston’s government was 
overthrown on his French policy, by the ominous 
majority of nineteen; a conjunction of events which, 
as we have already stated, is unparalleled in history. 

On the downfall of the Palmerston administration, 
the Earl of Derby was again entrusted with the forma¬ 
tion of a ministry, which he quickly effected; assum- 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 159 

ing, for the second time, the dignified and responsible 
duties of Premier. And it is an interesting circum¬ 
stance in connexion with the construction of Lord 
Derby’s second administration that he selected his 
own son to fill one of the most important offices in the 
cabinet. There may be some sufficiently hypercritical 
to object to such an appointment on the ground of its 
savouring of nepotism, but the contention involves a 
fallacy which is essentially groundless. The appoint¬ 
ment met with the universal approval of the entire 
community, and it would have been the most trans¬ 
parent affectation on the part of the Premier to have 
ignored what everybody cordially believed, the pre¬ 
eminent fitness of his son to be the new Premiers 
Indian Chief Secretary. The new ministry had no 
sooner been installed in office, than the Premier and 
his colleagues entered upon the duties of sound prac¬ 
tical legislation, and one of its first and most important 
acts was the complete re-organization and consolidation 
of the Indian government, under the immediate direc¬ 
tion of the noble Lord to whom that department of 
the cabinet had been entrusted, and whose personal resi¬ 
dence in India for a considerable period, had rendered c/ 
him peculiarly fitted for carrying those desired reforms 
which were by all admitted to be necessary in the 
management of our Indian affairs. Several other 
important enactments were carried out in the early 
months of the government of 1858, not the least im- 


160 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


portant of which was tlie admission of the Jews into 
Parliament. The session of 1858 having closed, the 
cabinet, during the recess, prepared a measure of Parlia¬ 
mentary Eeform, a question which had for a lengthened 
period occupied the time and attention of successive 
governments, but which none had yet been able to 
settle. Shortly after the meeting of Parliament for 
the session of 1859, the government brought in a bill 
for the reform of Parliament, of an exceedingly com¬ 
prehensive character. Had that bill been successfully 
carried through the House it would have conferred the 
elective franchise on a very considerable number of 
intelligent persons who did not then possess it, but 
when the bill came to be discussed, it encountered 
the fiercest opposition from different quarters. It was 
objected to and denounced on several grounds, one of 
which—a favourite one with Mr. Disraeli, its author— 
was the “ fancy franchises,” and ultimately the govern¬ 
ment. were once more baffled in their endeavours 
to settle the question which for years had stood in the 
way of all practical legislation. They were defeated 
on the second reading of the bill on the 31st of 
March, by a majority of 39, when, in accordance with 
the advice of her ministers, the Queen dissolved 
Parliament on the 23rd of April, the prorogation 
having taken place on the Tuesday previous, April 
19 th. 

After the general election which followed the 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 161 

dissolution, the new Parliament assembled on the 
31st of May, and the Eight Hon. John Evelyn 
Denison having been unanimously again elected 
Speaker, the swearing in of members proceeded, and 
occupied several days. On the 7th of June her 
Majesty in person opened the new Parliament, and 
the same evening the discussion on the address in 
answer to her Majesty’s speech, took place in both 
Houses. In the House of Lords the address was 
unanimously agreed to, hut in the House of Commons 
an amendment was proposed by the Marquis of 
Hartington, member for North Lancashire, to the 
effect that her Majesty’s ministers did not possess 
the confidence of the House and the country. The 
amendment was seconded by Mr. Hanbury, member 
for Middlesex. The debate extended to four nights, 
and on the 10th of June the amendment was carried 
in a very full house, by a majority of 13, the numbers 
being 323 for it, and 310 against it. On the following 
day both Houses adjourned to Friday, June 17th, 
and on that day the Earl of Derby in the House of 
Lords, and Mr. Disraeli in the House of Commons, 
announced the resignation of ministers, in conse¬ 
quence of the adverse vote which had been arrived at. 

In the autumn of 1859, namely, on Saturday, 
the 29th of October, a splendid banquet was given to 
the Earl of Derby and his colleagues, in the Philhar¬ 
monic Hall, at Liverpool, when the noble Earl and 


162 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


every member of bis late Cabinet, except General 
Peel, were present. The attendance was large and 
influential, and the reception of the ex-Premier and 
his late ministers was cordial and enthusiastic, 
amounting to nothing less than a great ovation. 
During the proceedings, the following address, signed 
by 7090 of the principal inhabitants, was presented 
to his lordship :— 

“To the Right IIon. the Earl of Derby, K.G. 

“ We, the undersigned inhabitants of the borough of 
“ Liverpool, desire to approach your lordship with pro- 
“ found sentiments of respect and gratitude for the 
“services you have so loyally rendered to the crown 
“ and country during a period of unexampled difficulty; 
“and to congratulate your lordship on the distinguished 
“honour with which her Majesty, by investing you 
“ with the Order of the Garter, has this day graced your 
“ retirement from office. 

“The crisis at which your lordship was called upon 
“to assume the duties of the Premiership was one of 
“ deep anxiety. 

“There was then, both in France and England, a 
“ feeling of irritated nationality, which threatened to sever 
“the friendship so necessary to their mutual prosperity. 

“ The slightest error in diplomacy might have kindled 
“ among noble and generous allies, the feuds and enmities 
“ of ancient days. 

“Your firmness and prudence were found equal to 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 163 


“ the occasion. By your wise counsels the jealous suscepti- 
“ bilities of both countries were honourably satisfied. 

“The despatches on foreign affairs recently published, 
“ prove the earnest and wise endeavours of your govern- 
“ment to maintain the peace of the world, while they 
“ show how sincere were your efforts to promote real freedom 
“ in Italy. 

“ We recognise in these despatches not only the 
“greatest talent, hut a firm and dignified spirit, and a 
“ sound English feeling. 

“Your country gratefully acknowledges that at this 
“ trying period, when great nations have been stirred by 
“ passions which threaten the peace of the whole world, 
“your government has avoided all entangling alliances, 
“has maintained the strictest neutrality, and has placed 
“ the defences of England on a basis of powerful security. 

“ History will regard your administration as a bright 
“page in our country’s annals; for therein is written 
“‘India pacified,’ ‘Our army victorious,’and ‘Our navy 
“ ‘ unprecedentedly powerful.’ 

“The difficulties of your position were increased by 
“the necessity of acting with an adverse House of 
“ Commons ; and thus many of your legislative measures, 
“though based on justice, and calculated to meet the 
“wants of the country, were met by opposing majorities. 

“It is painful to reflect that party spirit overrules 
“ every motive of action among unpatriotic legislators, 
“ and that from the subdivisions of political parties the 
“ Queen’s government is dependent for the success of 


164 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ measures on the caprices of small, intriguing, and 
“ restless sections—themselves irresponsible, and, therefore, 
“ indifferent to consequences. 

“ By a combination of those sections the country has 
“been deprived of your lordship’s services, but happily 
“ not before your measures had proved the policy of your 
“ government to have been based on constitutional progress 
“ and the advancement of material prosperity.” 

This address, which was beautifully engrossed on 
vellum, was enclosed in a superb silver casket, the 
arms of Liverpool, and also the Derby arms, being 
on the shield, inside the lid, and underneath was the 
following inscription:—“ This Casket, containing an 
“Address, signed by 7090 Conservatives of Liverpool, 
“ was presented to the Right Hon. the Earl of Derby, 
“ K.Gr., 29tli October, 1859. The presentation was 
“followed by a banquet at the Philharmonic Hall, 
“ Erancis Sliand, Esq., in the Chair.” 

In replying to the toast of his health, at the ban¬ 
quet, in the evening, the Earl of Derby delivered a 
long and interesting speech, which was throughout 
characterized by that power and eloquence of which 
his lordship is so great a master. In the course of 
his speech, the noble Earl dwelt at considerable 
length, in explanation of those principles of Conserva¬ 
tism, upon which he and his colleagues had always 
acted. Stating what he believed true Conservatism to 
be, he said :— 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 165 

“ I mean by this, not that Conservatism, falsely 
“ so called, which would obstruct all useful change; 
“but I would speak of that Conservatism which is 
“ not obstruction, and which is the best promoter of 
“ safe and gradual social improvement—of that Con¬ 
servatism which, strenuously adhering to the old 
“ machinery of the constitution, adapts, from time to 
“ time, the various parts of its mechanism to the real 
“ requirements and the real capacities of the age in 
“ which we live—of that Conservatism which should 
“give to all orders and degrees of men within this 
“ realm their due weight, authority, and preponderance 
“—of that Conservatism which loves the interests 
“ of the people at large, but will not be led away by 
“ the noisy demonstrations of blustering demagogues, 
“ either to shrink at the voice of menace, or timidly 
“ to concede rights and positions to large bodies of 
“ men, for the purpose of obtaining a temporary 
“ moment of popularity, when, in our hearts, we 
“ believe that the concession of those coveted boons 
“would be the worst injury to the classes to whom 
“ we eive them. Gentlemen, this is the Conservatism 
“ to which, 1 take it, you pledge yourselves by your 
“ attendance this day. They are the principles which 
“ I have ever professed, and upon which I have ever 
“ endeavoured to act.” His lordship’s allusion to the 
late Sir Eobert Peel, and the reasons why, in 1846, 
he separated from the honourable baronet, and be- 


166 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


came himself the leader of the Conservative party, 
possess more than ordinary interest. “ I wish,” said 
the noble Earl, “to speak in this assembly—as I 
“ have spoken upon all occasions—in no terms indi- 
“ cative of anything but the highest respect for the 
“ distinguished genius, and for the personal character 
“ of that great statesman, whom England has lately 
“ had to lament, the late Sir Robert Peel, and if there 
“ were any occasion upon which I could not speak in 
“ terms other than those which I have always used, 
“ it would be at a time when a melancholy domestic 
“ calamity has prevented the attendance of his nearest 
“ relation (General Peel), one of my most valued col- 
“ leagues in the late government, and who gave 
“ me most able and admirable assistance in the 
“ management of the most difficult department, 
“ namely, the civil department of the army in this 
“country. But, gentlemen, I am not speaking dis¬ 
respectfully of the memory of a statesman with 
“ whom I had the honour of many years’ personal 
“ friendship, and, I believe, reciprocal esteem, if I say 
“that the course which, at the close of 1847, w’as 
“ taken by the late Sir Robert Peel, completely and 
“ entirely, for the moment, shattered the Conservative 
“ party in this country. Upon the failure of Lord 
“John Russell’s endeavour to form a government, 
“ I wrote confidentially to the most eminent 
“ man of the country—to the late Duke of Wei- 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 167 

“lington—a warm and cordial admirer and snp- 
“ porter of Sir Eobert Peel, and a man wlio 
“ had stood for many, many years prominent—the 
“ foremost man in the world in the eyes of his 
“countrymen—I wrote to consult him as to the 
“ position of the Conservative party, and the best 
“ means of restoring that unity which had been so 
“ lamentably dissevered. I received a long letter 
“from the Duke of Wellington, which 1 need hardly 
“say I have kept and deeply value, in which he 
“ explained to me his own position, and in which 
“ he stated, that having accepted, under the abortive 
“ attempt of Lord John Eussell to form a govern- 
“ment, the duties of the neutral position of Com- 
“ mander-in-cliief of her Majesty’s forces, he con- 
“ sidered that lie • had for ever broken off his 
“ political connection with any party. He inti- 
“ mated his concurrence in the opinion which I 
“had ventured to express, that the alienation of 
“the Conservative party from Sir Eobert Peel was 
“ not a mere temporary feeling, but that it was 
“ impossible that he should ever again place himself 
“ at their head with a prospect of success; and the 
“Duke of Wellington, I will not say entreated, but 
“ I will say he exhorted me, as a matter of duty to 
“ my Sovereign and to my country, to throw aside 
“ all doubts and all hesitation, and to assume at once 
“the leadership of that great Conservative party 


168 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ whose existence, and whose power he deemed to he 

“ essential to the well being of the country and all 

“ its institutions, and he almost implored me, in my 

“ attempt to form an administration, not to be dis- 

“ couraged by any difficulties, except those which 
% 

“ should be absolutely insuperable, but to sacrifice all 
“ other feelings to the desire of serving my Sovereign. 
“ Gentlemen, for fourteen years I have endeavoured 
“ to act in the spirit of that wise and patriotic advice 
“ coming from that eminent man, and I have been 
“ rewarded by seeing the Conservative party, not only 
“ in Parliament, increasing in numbers and in union, 
“but spreading their roots deeply into the feelings 
“ and the heart of the country, and forming, as our 
“opponents are compelled to acknowledge,—and in 
“ doing so their fears rather magnify the position,— 
“ and declare that we are actually at this moment at 
“ the head of a Parliamentary majority.” 

On the resignation of the Earl of Derby’s second 
administration, Lord Palmerston once more assumed 
the reins of power, which he held up to the time of his 
death in 1865. The Earl of Derby continued during the 
whole of that period, as he does down to the present 
time, the recognised and brilliant leader of the 
Conservative party, and during the discussion of the 
various cpiestions, which from time to time came 
under consideration, his lordship invariably took a 
prominent part, his opinions and advocacy being 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 169 

looked up to with the greatest respect, and his 
arguments and reasoning always powerful and 
convincing. We mav here observe that during Lord 
Palmerston’s premiership, the question of Reform, 
so far as the cabinet was concerned, was allowed to 
a great extent to sleep, for although it was well 
understood that several of his colleagues were known 
to be favourable to the subject being again introduced 
into Parliament, the Premier himself regarded it as 
a “ bore,” and the very mention of it was distasteful 
to him. On his death, however, when Earl Eussell 
succeeded him at the head of the government, the 
question was revived in the cabinet, and the Queen’s 
speech, at the opening of Parliament in 1866, 
announced that a Beform Pill would be introduced 
in the course of the session. In a week or two after 
the opening of the session this promise was redeemed, 
Mr. Gladstone, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 
bringing in a hill, the main features of which were a 
£7 rental qualification in boroughs, and a £12 rental 
qualification in counties, with the entire abolition 
of the rating clause, as it existed under the act of 1832. 
The proposal for the abolition of rating as a condition 
for exercising the elective franchise, was strongly 
opposed by the Conservative party, with the Earl of 
Derby at their head, and the Conservatives being 
assisted by a number of members from the Liberal 
ranks, who were designated by Mr. Bright “ the cave 


170 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


of Adullam,” and who have since been known by 
the title of “ Adullamitesthe ministry were de¬ 
feated, and thereupon at once resigned office. 

The events which followed the resignation of 
Earl Bussell's government after their defeat on the 
Beform Bill in 1866, are too recent to require any 
lengthened notice here, inasmuch as they must be 
fresh in the recollection of every one. Suffice it to 
say that the Earl of Derby was again sent for by the 
Queen, and for the third time undertook the task of 
forming an administration, and it is only due to his 
lordship here to say that seeing the state of public 
feeling and opinion on the subject of Beform—how 
equally parties were balanced, and how desirable it 
was that the question of Beform should be settled, his 
lordship made overtures to several of the leading 
members of the Liberal party to join his ministry, 
but they one and all firmly refused, and he was 
therefore reduced to the necessity of forming an ad¬ 
ministration composed exclusively of the members of 
his own party. In a few days he accomplished the 
undertaking; and when he made his first statement 
in the House of Lords as the new Premier, he in¬ 
formed the House of what had been his intention and 
wish as to the composition of his government. No 
legislation deserving of any special notice took place 
in 1866, for the session was far advanced, and with 
the defeat of the late government in the latter part of 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 171 

the summer, there was little left hut routine matters 
to get through, and the session was brought to a close 
at the usual period in August. 

During the recess, speculation was rife as to what 
ministers would do in the coming session on the 
all-absorbing subject of Reform. Some people pre¬ 
dicted that it would form no part of the ministerial 
programme, in the speech to be delivered from the 
throne, whilst, on the other hand, the great majority 
of the public inclined to the belief that government 
would not, by shelving it, trifle with a question which 
had become a source of irritation and discontent, and 
which, on several grounds, it was desirable should be 
finally and effectually disposed of. Perhaps, when 
Parliament rose at the close of the session of 1866, 
ministers were quite as much in the dark as to their 
own intentions as the world outside the Cabinet. 
The probability is, that in the interval which pre¬ 
vailed during the recess, the government took ad¬ 
vantage of the generally expressed wish through¬ 
out the country, that a resolute effort should be 
made to dispose of the subject; and, at an early 
period in their Cabinet councils, determined upon 
submitting a proposal to Parliament, with the bona 
fide intention of setting the matter at rest by an act 
which should meet the approval of all parties, and, 
accordingly, the subject of a reform bill having been 
affirmatively named in the speech from the throne, 


172 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


on the opening of the session of 1867, the Chancellor 
of the Exchequer, during the following week, intro¬ 
duced a series of resolutions to the House, which we 
may at once say were regarded with disfavour, and 
which the Chancellor prudently withdrew, with as 
little delay as decency and propriety would permit. 
After repeated discussions, a hill was brought in 
providing for a £6 rate paying franchise in towns, 
and a £14 franchise in counties, which met with 
considerable opposition. The discussion of the ques¬ 
tion is of too recent date to render it at all necessary 
for us to dwell upon it in detail here. Mr. Disraeli 
ultimately withdrew his first bill, and the world was 
astonished by a Conservative government introducing 
the most democratic measure of parliamentary reform 
that was ever submitted to the legislature—house¬ 
hold borough suffrage, subject to payment of rates, 
and a £15 county franchise. This comprehensive 
proposal completely “ took the wind out of the sails ” 
of the more advanced Liberal party, whilst it stag¬ 
gered many of the adherents of the government, and 
three Members of the Cabinet—General Peel, Lord 
Cranbourne, and the Earl of Carnarvon — fiercely 
denounced the Premier and the Chancellor of the 
Exchequer as having betrayed the party, and seceded 
from the ministry in disgust. Mr. Disraeli, however, 
managed, by that adroitness which he possesses in 
such an eminent degree, not only to keep his own 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 173 


party together, united in support of the Bill, hut also 
to secure the co-operation of a very considerable 
number of the members of the Liberal party, and the 
measure had not been long in committee before it 
was made perfectly manifest that it was “safe.” 
Several minor alterations were made, and a variety 
of amendments carried, but the Bill came out of 
committee with its main principle ratified, and Mr. 
Disraeli, the leader of the Conservative party, had 
the gratification and credit of carrying a Reform Bill 
through the House of Commons, more democratic in 
its character and provisions than any measure of a 
similar kind ever submitted by even the most ad¬ 
vanced Liberal minister. When the Bill was carried 
to the House of Lords, very few obstacles to its pas¬ 
sing presented themselves. The Earl of Derby can¬ 
didly admitted that he had always been of opinion, 
that if we were to have an extension of the franchise 
there was nothing left for it but household suffrage, 
and the Peers, as a body, tacitly, at least, endorsed 
the sentiment by dealing tenderly with the measure, 
and allowing it to emerge from committee without 
any one of its main provisions having been altered 
or impaired. The rest may be told in a few words. 
The Bill unanimously passed the third reading, and 
received the royal assent; and the Earl of Derby, 
who, as Mr. Stanley, had much of the credit of pas¬ 
sing the Reform Bill of 1832, introduced by the 


174 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


Whig ministry, under Earl Grey, and which, at the 
time, was considered to he extremely liberal, has 
now, thirty-five years afterwards, he himself being 
Premier, succeeded in placing upon the statute book 
a measure, in comparison with which, the act of 1832 
is of an essentially disfranchising character. 

We have thus brought the parliamentary and 
political life of the Earl of Derby down to the ses¬ 
sion ending August, 1867, a session which, from the 
magnitude of the great measure carried during its 
sittings, will mark one of the most important epochs 
in the political history of this country, and be re¬ 
membered as a period, when, under the guidance and 
advice of a Conservative Prime Minister, and one of 
the most talented and distinguished statesmen who 
ever presided over the destinies of a nation, the 
people of England had conferred upon them political 
privileges to an extent which they never before enjoyed. 

As regards the political career of the Earl of 
Derby, it would be uncandid not to admit that he 
deserted the party with whom, in early life, he was 
so closely allied, and gradually seceded from the 
Whigs, until he has attained the dignified and pro¬ 
minent position which he now occupies, but an 
examination into the circumstances and facts in con¬ 
nexion with his first secession from the Whig govern- 
ment, in 1834, and for which he was virulently 
assailed and charged with inconsistency, must satisfy 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 175 

any unprejudiced enquirer, that liis alleged inconsis¬ 
tency is rather ideal than real. It will he remem¬ 
bered, that it was on the question of the Appropria¬ 
tion of the Revenues of the Irish Church to other 
than Church purposes, that he threw up his office as 
Colonial Secretary, under Earl Grey, in the year 
above named, but it must be borne in mind that for 
many years before 1834, he had on repeated occasions ex¬ 
pressed himself in strong terms against the Irish Church 
Revenues being so diverted, more especially in May, 
1824, when Mr. Haine brought forward a motion on 
the Irish Church Establishment, which was warmly 
opposed by the then Mr. Stanley; and, in addition 
to the above named fact, Mr. Stanley, when he carried 
the Irish Church Temporalities Bill, in 1833, ex¬ 
pressed his wish and desire that it would settle the 
Irish Church Question, and that there would be no 
further interference with its revenues. His secession, 
therefore, from the Whig government, on the occasion 
referred to, was consistent rather than the reverse, 
and by no means justified the bitter and malignant 
attacks which were made upon him at the time, and 
often repeated since. He lias also been often accused 
of inconsistency in opposing the repeal of the Corn 
Laws, a charge so transparently groundless, inasmuch 
as he was always an avowed protectionist, that it is 
only necessary to draw attention to the charge in 
order to expose its folly. The real truth is, that the 


176 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


Earl of Derby, like many other distinguished public 
men in the present day, finds himself separated from 
those with whom he was associated in earlier life, as 
much from divergence or change of opinion on the 
part of others as himself. There are many living 
instances to which we could point in illustration of 
our statement, but it is unnecessary to do so. It is 
sufficient for us to believe that in every case to which 
we allude, the individuals in question are actuated 
by true patriotism, and a desire for their country’s 
welfare, and so with the Earl of Derby, whatever 
other failings he may have,—as his detractors say, 
he may be “ impetuous and passionate,” “ rash and 
despotic,” “ready to exasperate,” or “haughty and 
aristocratic,”—and, as regards the latter accusation, 
if, indeed, it be true, it need excite no wonder or 
surprise, for “we do not expect the high-mettled 
racer to herd with donkeys or snuff the ground,”—he 
may or may not be obnoxious to any of these polite 
appellatives, but leaving the decision of this point to 
others, we do not hesitate to say that a more high 
souled, single minded statesman, or one more sin¬ 
cerely devoted to the true interests of his Sovereign 
and his country, never crossed the threshold of the 
English Parliament. By jealous and envious minds 
his oratory and debating powers have been depre¬ 
ciated as being nothing more than “ showy,” but 
those who know him best have spoken otherwise, 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 177 

and it is appropriately remarked by Mr. Rochester, 
that “ as an orator, his reputation stands almost (in 
“ some particulars, altogether) unrivalled among his 
“ contemporaries: far beyond which, however, it should 
“ be added, that lie has perhaps never in all the past, 
“ had any superior among the most gifted debaters in 
“ Parliament. In many of the subtler devices of ora- 
“ tory, he has long been recognized as an exquisite 
“ proficient, while to an acquired, but perfected mas- 
“ tery of that art of arts, he has brought those manifest 
“ natural endowments which are so essential to com- 
“ plete the influence, the charm, the glamour of the ac- 
“ complished rhetorician. Not that his diction is ever 
“ornate, being at all times, indeed, superb in its 
“graceful simplicity, but that in the very terseness 
“and lucidity of his 'silver style’ there are witcheries 
“ of sound far beyond the reach of mere verbal adorn- 
“ ment. His language, in truth, is always as devoid 
“ of ornament as it is replete with a nameless and 
“ irresistible fascination. It is to the manly purity 
“and strength of his Saxon English that he owes 
“ much of his extraordinary power in discussion—the 
“ vital force of one surpassed by few as an orator, by 
“ none as a debater.” And Lord Macaulay, speaking of 
the Earl’s knowledge of the science of parliamentary 
defence and attack, says that “ it resembles rather an 
“ instinct than an acquisition ; and he alone, among all 
“ our great senatorial reputations, seems to have made 


178 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ himself, upon the instant, as it were, master of his 
“ art, instead of affecting this—as in other instances 
“ —slowly, and ‘at the expense of an audience.’ ” 
It was Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton who gave to the 
Earl the distinguished and expressive title “ the 
Rupert of debate.” In 1846, Sir Edward pub¬ 
lished a poem (which had previously appeared piece¬ 
meal), entitled “ The New Timon,” comprising por¬ 
traits of the most distinguished political chiefs of the 
day, Lord Stanley, then leader of the Opposition, 
being amongst them, and the following lines are ex¬ 
tracted from the portraiture of his lordship:— 

“ One after one the lords of time advance; 

Here Stanley meets—here Stanley scorns— the glance ! 
The brilliant chief, irregularly great, 

Frank, haughty, rash,—the Rupert of debate. 

• • • • • • 

Yet who not listens with delightful smile, 

To the pure Saxon of that silver style : 

In the clear style a heart as clear is seen, 

Prompt to the rash—revolting from the mean.” 

Sir Archibald Alison also bears the following testi¬ 
mony to his fame:—“ He is, beyond all doubt, and by 
“ the admission of all parties, the most perfect orator of 
“ his day. His style of speaking differs essentially from 
“ that of the great statesmen of his own or the preceding 
“ age. His leading feature is neither the vehement de- 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 179 


“ clamation of Fox, nor the lucid narrative of Pitt, nor 
“ the classical fancy of Canning, nor the varied energy 
“ of Brougham. Capable, when he chooses, of rivalling 
“ any of these, illustrious in the line in which they 
“ excelled, the native bent of his mind leads him 
“ rather to a combination of their varied excellencies, 
“ but which combine, in a surprising manner, to form 
“ a graceful and attractive whole. At once playful 
“ and serious, eloquent and instructive, amusing and 
“pathetic, his thoughts seem to flow from his 
“lips in an unpremeditated stream, which at oiice 
“ delights and fascinates his hearers. None was ever 
“ tired while his speech lasted; no one ever saw him 
“ come to a conclusion without regret, He is capable 
“ at times of rising to the highest flights of oratory, 
“is always thoroughly master of the subject on which 
“ he speaks, and never fails to place his views in the 
“ clearest and most favourable light.” And the Times , 
in speaking of the late Lord Aberdeen, says:—“ Not 
“ only had Lord Aberdeen seen Fox and Pitt stand as 
“ Byron has described them—the two mountains, 
“ ‘ Athos and Ida, with a dashing sea of eloquence 
“ ‘ between ’—he had listened with awe to the rolling 
“ thunders of Burke, he had witnessed the brilliant 
“ but harmless thunders of Sheridan, he had heard 
“ Granville and Grey in their prime. Whitebread and 
“ Wyndham he had heard volleying forth their cla- 
“ mours by the hour ; and with all the inclination of 


180 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ an old man to depreciate the present and to laud the 
“ past, he lias declared of these giants, of whom it is 
“ supposed that we are never more to see the like, 
“ that not one of them, as a speaker, is to be com- 
“ pared with our own Lord Derby, when Lord Derby 
“ is at his best.” 

At the present moment, when the Earl of Derby, 
although advanced in life, is still in the zenith of his 
political fame, it may be well to introduce here a 
graphic sketch of his lordship’s political position 
upwards of twenty years since, as laid down at the 
commencement of a merciless attack upon his lord- 
ship, in the December number for 1844, of the 
jC Westminster Review. It is the spontaneous testi¬ 
mony of a bitter political enemy to the power and 
influence of a rising statesman of the time :— 

“Few public men of our time,” says the writer, 
“ prime ministers scarcely excepted, have been 
“charged with weightier responsibilities, or actively 
“ engaged in a greater number and variety of political 
“ affairs of first class importance than Lord Stanley. 
“ He has held, successively, two of our most impor- 
“ tant state secretaryships, in each instance, during a 
“ critical period, with questions of the utmost urgency 
“ and magnitude pressing for a prompt solution; in 
“ each instance, with an overpowering parliamentary 
“ majority at his command, ready to register in the 
“ statute book his individual convictions of the right 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 181 

“and expedient. He lias been charged with the 
“reform of the greatest abuse known to the British 
“ empire—the Protestant Church of Ireland; with 
“the regeneration of the parliamentary constitution 
“ of Ireland ; with the suppression of Irish disturb- 
“ ances, and the extinguishment of Irish discontents. 
“ It has been his fortune to be ruler of the British 
“ Colonies, first, at a time, when, in our West India 
“ Islands, the whole framework of society had to be 
“ taken to pieces, and re-constructed: and, when in 
“ Canada, the accumulated grievances of a cpiarter of 
“a century were calling for instant redress, with 
“ rebellion and civil war as the alternative; and 
“ again, at a period, when, in the newest of our set- 
“ tlements, the most hopeful and promising experi- 
“ ment in colonization that modern times have seen, 
“ had to be aided and guided towards a successful 
“ result. He has twice held office in strong govern- 
“ ments, and once been an influential leader of 
“ opposition against a weak one. Even his neutrality 
“ and inaction have been powerfully felt in the world 
“of politics. He has not only led parties—he has 
“held the balance between parties. Seldom has a 
“ public man possessed a larger share of real parlia- 
“ mentary power than that wielded by Lord Stanley, 
“in the early part of the session of 1835, at the head 
“ of some half dozen waverers, when a ministry and an 
“ opposition—each numbering their three hundred 


182 


THE STANLEYS OF KXOWSLEY. 


“ and more—waited to learn their fate from his lips. 
“All things taken together, we may say that few 
“statesmen have had larger powers and weightier 
“ duties, both in and out of office, than Lord Stanley.” 

Such is the recorded influence which his lordship 
is said to have possessed, as Lord Stanley, more than 
twenty years since. May we not exclaim, how infi- 
nitely greater is the moral and political influence 
of the Earl of Derby at the present moment! But it 
is not by the course which he has taken in the world 
of politics alone, that his lordship has commended 
himself to the affectionate respect and admiration of 
his countrymen. Although having been absorbed, 
during a life time, in the cares and anxieties of poli¬ 
tical strife and contention, he has nevertheless availed 
himself of some stolen leisure hours for the exercise 
of those literary and classical abilities, which, in so 
eminent a degree, he possesses. It is true that he 
lias not contributed very much to our stock of litera¬ 
ture, and, when we consider how constantly and 
uniformly each succeeding year of his life lias been 
closely devoted to the service of the state, our only 
feeling of surprise is that he has found time and 
opportunity to contribute anything at all. If, how¬ 
ever, he had never given the world any other proof 
of Ids high classical and literary attainments, Ids able 
translation of Homer is sufficient to convince every one 
of his elevated intellectual powers. But we have also. 



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184 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


princely liberality of tlie Earl of Derby in that trying 
emergency reflected greater honour on his lordship 
than any coronet could confer. The writer well re¬ 
members being present at the public county meeting 
which was held at Manchester, on the 2nd of Decem¬ 
ber, 1862, for the purpose of raising a fund for 
relieving the sufferers. On that occasion, the noble 
Earl not only contributed a munificent sum for the 
amelioration of their condition, (£5000) but his great 
talents were also there dedicated to the furtherance 
of as noble an object as any in support of which they 
had ever before been employed. He spoke on the 
occasion with a depth of feeling amounting to reli¬ 
gious fervour, and never were his lordship’s transcen- 
dant oratorical powers and eloquence more usefully 
exercised than in connexion with a gathering which 
had for its object the assistance of a community 
reduced to the last state of physical suffering and 
starvation, by an intestine war which will ever be 
memorable in the annals of history. 

His exordium on the occasion was marked by a 
depth of feeling which showed his profound sympathy 
for the sufferers on whose behalf the meeting had 
been convened. “We are met together,” said his 
lordship, “ upon an occasion which must call forth 
“ the most painful, and which at the same time ought 
“to excite—and I am sure will excite—the most 
“kindly feelings of our human nature. We are met 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 185 

“ to consider tlie best means of palliating—would to 
“ God I could say removing—a great national cala- 
“ mity, the like whereof, in modern times, has never 
“ been witnessed in this favoured land; a calamity 
“ which it was impossible for those who are the 
“ greatest sufferers to foresee, or, if they had foreseen, 
“ to take any step to avoid ; a calamity which, though 
“ shared by the nation at large, falls more particularly, 
“ and with the heaviest weight, upon this hitherto 
“ prosperous and wealthy district; a calamity which 
“ has converted this teeming hive of industry into a 
“ stagnant desert, comparatively of inactivity and 
“ idleness, and converted that which has been the 
“ source of our greatest wealth into the deepest abyss 
“ of impoverishment; a calamity which has im- 
“ poverislied the wealthy, which has brought distress 
“ upon those who have been somewhat above the 
“ world, by the exercise of frugal industry; and a 
“ calamity which has reduced honest and struggling 
“ poverty to a state of absolute and humiliating desti- 
“ tution. It is to meet this calamity that we are met 
“ together, and to add our means and our assistance 
“to those efforts which have been so nobly made 
“throughout the country generally.” His lordship 
then proceeded to point out the great amount of dis¬ 
tress and destitution which prevailed, by showing the 
enormous increase in the numbers ol those who were 
receiving parochial relief in the manufacturing dis- 


186 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


tricts of Lancashire, in addition to those who were 
relieved by the several local committees in the various 
towns throughout the county; and having further 
shown the very large excess in the amount of deposits 
withdrawn from the savings’ banks, the noble Earl 
observed:—“ We may figure to ourselves the amount 
“ of difficulty, sorrow, and privation, which that 
“ amount represents. It represents the blighted hopes 
“for life of many a family; it represents the small 
“sums set aside by honest, frugal, persevering in- 
“ dustry, by years of toil and self-dependence, in the 
“ hope of it being, as it has been in many cases before, 
“ the foundations of colossal fortunes; it represents 
“ the hopes for his family of many an industrious 
“ artisan; and it is the first step in that downward 
“progress which leads him to destitution and to 
“ pauperism. The first step is the withdrawal of the 
“ savings of honest industry from the savings’ banks ; 
“then comes the sacrifice of some little cherished 
“article of furniture, the cutting off of some little 
“ indulgence, the sacrifice of that which makes in his 
“ home an additional appearance of comfort and 
“ happiness; the sacrifice, one by one, of articles of 
“ furniture, until at last the well-conducted, honest, 
“frugal, saving artisan finds himself on a level with 
“the idle, the dissipated, and the impoverished— 
“ obliged to pawn the very clothes of his family, and 
“ only prevented by a noble independence from be- 


EDWARD, FOURTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 187 

“ coming dependent upon public or private charity, 
“ in the emphatic words of the dialect of his county, 
“declaring, ‘Nay, but we would ‘clem’ first.’” After 
reading the resolution which he had to propose, the 
effect of which was that the patient submission with 
which the working classes in the manufacturing 
districts had borne their sufferings and privations 
entitled them to the warmest sympathies of their 
fellow-countrymen, his lordship said:—“ I cannot lose 
“ the opportunity of asking this great assembly, with 
“ what feelings this state of things should be con¬ 
templated by those in higher circumstances. In 
“ the first place, I will say with all reverence, that it 
“is a subject for deep national humiliation. We have 
“ been accustomed for years to look with pride upon 
“the enormous wealth of the manufacturing portion 
“ of the industry of this country; we have seen, 
“ within the last twelve or fourteen years, the con¬ 
sumption of cotton in Europe extending from 50,000 
“to 90,000 bales per week ; we have seen the weight 
“ of cotton exported from this country amounting to 
“no less than 983,000,000 lbs. in a single year; and 
“ we have been accustomed to look down upon those 
“ less fortunate districts where wealth and fortune are 
“ built upon a less secure foundation, to consider the 
“ cotton manufactures as a security against the possi- 
“ bility of war between us and the cotton producing 
“ districts, and to hold that in the cotton manufacture 




188 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ lies the great strength of the country, and of future 
“ national prosperity and peace. I am afraid we have 
** looked at this too much in the spirit of the Assyrian 
“ monarch of old, to whom the words were called 
“ forth, ‘ Thy kingdom is departed from thee.’ That 
“ which was his pride became his humiliation, and 
“ that which has been our pride has become our 
“ humiliation and punishment. That which we have 
“ considered the source of our wealth, and the sure 
“ foundation upon which we have built, lias been itself 
“ the cause of our humiliation. The reed upon which 
“ we have leaned has gone through the hand that 
“ pressed upon it, and has pierced us to the heart.” 

Whether, then, we regard the Earl of Derby as a 
statesman, a scholar, or a philanthropist, he is equally 
entitled to our admiration and esteem; and in his 
person the illustrious House of Stanley maintains its 
ancient, loyal, and honourable traditions. 



CHAPTER IX. 


THE RIGHT HON. LORD STANLEY, M.P., SECRETARY OF 
STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS. 

The Right Hon. Lord Stanley, now Chief Secretary 
for Foreign Affairs in his father’s administration, is 
undoubtedly the most rising, and, at the same time, 
the most popular statesman of the day. It would 
almost appear that the genius and administrative 
ability of the Stanleys are now becoming intuitive, 
for although, from physical causes, Lord Stanley is 
not his father’s equal in oratory, we very much 
question whether he is not, comparatively young as 
he is, a more profound thinker, whilst so far as re¬ 
gards aptitude for public business and real hard work, 
we venture to say that he has not an equal in the 
House. Lord Stanley is in every sense a remarkable 
man. Study and devotion to public life seems to be 
the object of his existence, and although surrounded 
by all the aids and appliances for the indulgence of 
luxurious ease and enjoyment, he appears to be indif¬ 
ferent to them all, preferring, perhaps for “ the love of 
it,” a life of what may be called absolute drudgery in 


190 THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 

the service of the public. He is the type of a class 
peculiarly his own, if we may he permitted to make 
use of the somewhat anomalous expression. He is the 
most self-denying public man who has appeared before 
the world during the present generation, and we are 
bold enough to say that there is not a statesman in 
England who has so many friends, and as few ene¬ 
mies, for the former consist of all parties in the 
state and the country, whilst the latter are scarcely to 
be found amongst any class of society, even with 
the aid of the most powerful microscope. Lord 
Stanley is a philosopher, in the true sense of the 
term, and what follows will prove it. 

Edward Henry, Lord Stanley, was born at 
Knowsley, on the 21st of July, 1826, about a week 
after his father, the present Earl of Derby, was 
elected a member of Parliament for the borough of 
Preston, when opposed by William Cobbett, as one 
of three other candidates. He obtained the early 
portion of his education at Rugby, and from thence 
he proceeded to Trinity College, Cambridge, where 
he graduated, until the year 1848. During his stay 
at Cambridge, that intense study commenced for 
which he has since been so pre-eminently distin¬ 
guished in more matured life. When he quitted his 
college, in the year 1848, he was in the first class in 
classics, in addition to which, he took high honours 
in the mathematical tripos, gaining a medal for decla- 


EDWARD, LORD STANLEY. 


191 


mation, besides a number of other prizes. Before 
leaving college he took the degree of Master of Arts. 

The year before completing his studies, 1847, he 
attained his majority, the event being celebrated in 
the autumn of that year at Knowsley, by a series 
of festivities, which extended over an entire week. 
The invitations included not only the nobility and 
gentry of the county, but were also liberally supplied to 
the tradesmen and all classes in Liverpool and the 
surrounding towns in Lancashire; in addition to 
which the park and grounds at Knowsley were 
thrown open to the general public, who were invited 
to partake of the liberal hospitalities of the Earl. 
Hor were the tenantry and labourers on the estates 
forgotten. Immense marquees had been erected in 
several parts of the desmesne, in which every one 
in any way connected with the estates was cordially 
welcomed and regaled; and throughout the whole of 
the week Knowsley was one continued scene of 
gaeity and rejoicing. It was on this occasion that 
Lord Stanley, or rather the Hon. Mr. Stanley (for his 
grandfather, the late Earl, was then alive) first publicly 
gave evidence of his talents and abilities. A grand 
banquet was given in honour of the occasion in a 
spacious and elegantly decorated marquee, imme¬ 
diately adjacent to the hall. The scene presented 
was about as gorgeous a sight of its kind as the 
writer, who was present, ever witnessed. The walls 


192 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


of the spacious apartment itself were covered with 
immense mirrors from the floor to the ceiling, which, 
with the surrounding decorations, contributed to im¬ 
part additional effect to the brilliancy produced by 
the presence of an immense assemblage of the aris¬ 
tocracy and the elite of the country. The late Earl, 
together with the present Earl and Countess, and 
the whole of the Knowsley family and their friends, 
were of course present, and we should here add, that 
a spacious gallery or balcony had been provided for 
the ladies, which materially added to the general 
effect. When the young patrician and heir to the 
Earldom, fresh from his collegiate studies, rose to 
address the company assembled, the greatest possible 
interest was of course manifested to hear his maiden 
speech. At the outset there was naturally a little 
trepidation, but a few minutes sufficed to show his 
intellectual and oratorical abilities, and there was no 
difficulty in predicting for him that brilliant future 
which has already in his early life been realized. 

In the early part of the year 1848, Lord Stanley came 
forward as a candidate for Lancaster, but was defeated, 
and in a few months afterwards he left England for 
the purpose of making himself acquainted with our 
West Indian and North American Colonies. After 
having travelled through the West Indies he visited 
Canada, and subsequently went over a considerable 
portion of the United States. Whilst he was travelling 


EDWARD, LORD STANLEY. 


193 


in America, in December 1848, he unexpectedly 
received the information that he had been elected 
member for King’s Lynn, in place of the late Lord 
George Bentinck. On his return home from his 
travels in the West Indies and America, he very 
soon proved to the world that he had not been idle 
during his absence, for in a very short time after his 
arrival in England, he published a pamphlet entitled 
“ Claims and Resources of the West Indian Colonies.” 
This interesting publication, which was addressed in 
the form of a letter to the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, 
showed close observation. It recommended the 
repeal of the export duties as a boon to the planters. 
In the session of 1850 he took his seat in the House 
of Commons, and it was shortly after the publication 
of the above named pamphlet that he made his 
maiden speech in the House, his subject being the 
state of our West Indian Colonies in reference to the 
Sugar question. The speech was admitted by both 
sides of the House to be a perfect success, and both 
Lord Palmerston and Mr. Gladstone warmly compli¬ 
mented his lordship on the occasion. It may safely 
be stated that from that day Lord Stanley’s parlia¬ 
mentary status was secured. The speech was the 
subject of considerable conversation in the pre¬ 
cincts of the House at the time it was made, on 
grounds appertaining to something beyond its own 
intrinsic merits. About the same period the present 


194 THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 

Sir Robert Peel—his father being then alive—was 
placed in a similar position in the House to the noble 
lord, and whilst it was considered by many that the 
son of the great commoner, from whom much was 
expected, had disappointed the hopes of his friends, 
the descendant of the Earl of Derby had made “ a 
decided hit,” and put the son of the baronet into the 
shade. It is not too much to say that subsequent 
events have verified these opinions. In the year 1851 
Lord Stanley followed up his first pamphlet with 
another on the same subject, also addressed to Mr. 
Gladstone, entitled “Further Facts connected with 
“ the West Indies.” In this publication he enforced 
the views put forward in his first pamphlet, together 
with several remarks on the general condition of the 
Colonies. Travel, and a determination to see and 
judge for himself as to the condition and resources of 
our foreign dependencies, appear strongly to have 
animated his lordship, and accordingly we now find 
him again leaving England in 1851 for the far distant 
regions of India. He travelled as far eastward as 
Hindostan, exploring the district included in the 
Bengal presidency, when in April 1852, by a singular 
coincidence—in America he learnt of his election for 
King’s Lynn—he received the intelligence that he 
had been appointed Under-Secretary of State in the 
Foreign Office, in the ministry just formed by his 
father. Having received this information, he returned 


EDWARD, LORD STANLEY. 


195 


home, his researches being thus abruptly ended. 
On his arrival in England he at once took his seat in 
the House, and entered upon the duties of office, but 
the first ministry of Lord Derby having a short 
existence, he soon found himself in the ranks of the 
Opposition. Although his travels in India and his 
intended researches in that country had been 
interfered with by the recal home to which we have 
already referred, he took advantage in the House of 
what he had experienced there, notwithstanding that 
he was now on the Opposition side, and in the session 
of 1853 he brought forward a resolution, the principle 
of which involved extensive reforms in the manage¬ 
ment of our Indian territory, but it was not carried. 
The spirit of this resolution was however subsequently 
carried out under Lord Derby’s government of 1858, 
when Lord Stanley was at the India Board. The 
Church-rate question, which has frequently been 
under the consideration of the House, but which it 
has hitherto been unable to settle, came under 
discussion during the session of 1833, when his lord- 
ship spoke strongly in favour of its unconditional 
repeal, thus, on this subject differing from the great 
majority of his own party, but it is well understood 
that—especially on all subjects in which what he 
considers undue religious imposts are involved—his 
Conservatism is of an exceedingly liberal character. 
On every subsequent occasion when this subject has 


196 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


been brought before tlie House he has uniformly 
voted for the abolition of the rate. 

We pass over the general proceedings in Parlia¬ 
ment from 1853 to 1858, during which his lordship 
continued to sit on the Opposition benches. When 
the Earl of Derby’s second ministry was formed, in 
1858, Lord Stanley was in the first instance appointed 
to the office of Colonial Secretary, but on the 
resignation of the Earl of Ellenborough he succeeded 
him as President of the Board of Control, and it was 
whilst he was in that position that he availed 
himself of the opportunity of bringing in the India 
Bill, which he carried through Parliament, and which 
had the effect of sweeping away what was unfavorably 
known as the double government, and substituting 
in its stead the India Board, with a Secretary of 
State for India at its head, the last named official 
taking equal rank with the four other great 
Secretaries of State. Under the provisions of the 
India Bill the President of the Board of Control 
was abolished, and Lord Stanley himself became the 
first Secretary of State for India under the new 
arrangement, having been sworn in before her Majesty 
on the 2nd of September, 1858. We may here 
observe, in proof of Lord Stanley being a general 
favourite beyond the immediate circle of his own 
political party, that in the year 1855, on the death of 
Sir William Molesworth, who held the office of 


EDWARD, LORD STANLEY. 


197 


Colonial Secretary under Lord Palmerston, the noble 
viscount placed the vacant office at the disposal of 
Lord Stanley, which, however, his lordship declined 
to accept. It may be safely affirmed that the parlia¬ 
mentary career of Lord Stanley, so far, has been one 
unclouded success, in every department of the Govern¬ 
ment which has been entrusted to his charge. We 
question whether he has ever been accused of either 
a blunder or a mistake, and, indeed, it is scarcely to 
be supposed that one so calm and thoughtful, who 
never takes action on any one given subject until he 
has thoroughly and deliberately examined it in all 
its bearings, should be led into error or compromise 
his position. During the short time he was at the 
Colonial Office, in 1858, his management of that 
department was never called in question; his subse¬ 
quent conduct at his newly constituted India Board, 
including the part he took in the re-organisation of 
the management of our Indian possessions, met with 
unqualified approval; whilst to crown all his previous 
efforts, the admirable manner in which lie is at the 
present moment conducting our foreign relations 
under circumstances of more than ordinary difficulty 
—the ability, the tact, and the discretion which he 
manifests in every step which he takes, commands 
the universal approval and esteem of both Parlia¬ 
ment and the country, and we sincerely believe that 
no minister ever held the reins of power in whom the 


193 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


nation at large had such implicit confidence. But 
Lord Stanley is not only a statesman. He is some¬ 
thing more. We have said that his is a life of study 
and almost drudgery in the service of the public. In 
some form or other he is always working for them. 
He cannot afford to he idle. If he is not actually 
engaged in the senate, or writing dispatches in the 
bureau of the department with which he is connected, 
he is closely occupied in some kind of employment 
for promoting the social and political advancement 
of his fellows, and thus we find that some years ago 
he wrote a pamphlet, which, however, was only 
printed for private circulation, recommending that 
the parliamentary blue hooks should he epitomised 
and printed at the Government cost, and supplied 
to all mechanics’ institutes, as well as to the 
metropolitan and provincial press, for the purpose of 
furnishing the public, on every subject coming before 
the legislature, with the same accurate and authorita¬ 
tive information which is now supplied to the 
members. In a word, Lord Stanlev, whether we 
regard him in a political or a social aspect, is one of 
the very foremost men of the age, and the splendid 
future which lies before him is one that few of his 
contemporaries can hope for. 





CHAPTER X. 


KNOWSLEY MANSION AND PARK. 

The present narrative would not be complete without 
some description of the noble and extensive domain 
of Knowsley, which has been in possession of the 
illustrious family forming the subject of the fore¬ 
going pages, for a period now bordering upon 
nearly five hundred years. The Ivnowsley property 
was in the possession of the Lathom family previous 
to its passing to the Stanleys. In the fourteenth 
century Sir Robert de Lathom married Catherine, 
daughter and heiress of Sir Thomas de Knowsley, and 
thus by this marriage Knowsley became the property 
of the Lathoms. At a later period, as has already been 
stated in the preceding pages, Sir John Stanley, the 
founder of the House of Derby, married Isabel, the 
daughter and heiress of Sir Thomas Lathom, of 
Lathom and Knowsley, grandson of the above named 
Sir Robert de Lathom, and it was by this marriage 
that the celebrated domain of Knowsley, which now 
possesses a more than usual historical interest, passed 


200 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


to the Stanley family, and with the exception of the 
period of the Civil War and the Commonwealth, has 
ever since remained in their possession. 

At the time when Knowsley was first owned by 
the Stanleys, consequent upon the alliance just referred 
to, Latliom House continued the principal residence 
of the family, and it was not until after the memo¬ 
rable siege of Lathom House, during the time of 
James the seventh Earl, when his Countess played 
such a heroic part, that the Stanleys took up their 
abode at Knowsley as their principal mansion. In 
earlier times, before the matrimonial alliance which 
transferred it to the Stanleys, Knowsley is said to 
have been little more than a hunting seat for the 
sport and enjoyment of the Lathom family, and its 
character in this respect seems to have been main¬ 
tained until the year 1485, when Henry the Seventh 
visited his mother, the Countess of Thomas, the first 
Earl of Derby, in a few months after the great battle 
of Bos worth Field. 

There is no park in Lancashire, nor indeed in the 
northern counties of England, with the exception of 
that of the Earl of Lonsdale in Westmoreland, which 
can at all compare either in extent or picturesque 
beauty, with that of Knowsley. It is situated on 
high ground, and on all sides the view is extensive 
and commanding. It is between fourteen and 
fifteen miles in circumference, and occupies an area 


KNOWSLEY MANSION AND PARK. 201 

of about 2500 acres, or upwards of 12,000,000 square 
yards. It is surrounded throughout by exceedingly 
handsome and ornamental walls, there being at 
intervals no less than eleven lodges and entrances by 
which communication with the mansion to the 
different towns and districts in the surrounding 
neighbourhood is afforded. All the lodges, with the 
exception of the Liverpool entrance, have massive 
and handsome wrought iron gates. The entrance to 
the park and mansion from the Liverpool lodge is the 
most commanding of the whole, and is regarded as 
the main or principal approach to the domain. The 
lodge itself is a large and imposing stone edifice. In 
the centre is a noble arch, supported by a round 
tower on the right, and a square tower on the left, the 
arch being surmounted by the Derby arms, with the 
family motto inscribed. Large oak doors for the 
carriage entrance, are placed under the central arch, 
and there is also a door at the side entrance under 
the square tower, over which is the following 
inscription :—“ Bring good news, and knock boldly/’ 
The scenery in the park, which is beautifully un¬ 
dulating, is exceedingly varied, abounding in charming 
lawn and woodland views, with noble groups of trees 
in different elevated positions. From almost every 
part of the park, but more especially that portion of 
it more immediately in front of the hall, the view of 
the surrounding country is commanding and beau- 


202 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOVVSLEY. 


tiful, not being confined to inland scenery, but 
embracing on tlie west, a splendid marine and sea 
prospect. The course of the Mersey, with its opening 
to the Irish Sea, and the beautiful and romantic 
Welsh mountain scenery appears in the distance, 
opening up to the spectator a charming and picturesque 
view. The park throughout is magnificently wooded, 
more especially that portion which is known as the 
Gladewoods, in which there is one large tree constantly 
attracting much attention and interest, from the fact 
of its having been twisted in the stem, either by some 
freak of nature, or other singular agency, which gives 
it the appearance of a huge cork-screw. The park 
also contains a large and artistically arranged lake, 
upwards of ninety acres in extent. This fine sheet 
of water is called the “ Large Lake,” or the “ White 
Man’s Dam,” the latter name having been given to it 
in consequence of the embankment giving way during 
a storm, about seventy-five years since, when the lake, 
which is situated on a high level, rushed down into 
the lower portions of the park, destroying trees and 
everything it its progress, including the Mizzy and 
China temple lakes in the pleasure grounds, and even 
threatening to inundate the mansion. Near the head 
of the lake there is a nude statue, called the “ White 
Man,” the tradition being that the statue was found 
in the lake. On the west side of the lake is a fine 
boat-house, constructed of stone, tastefully filled with 


KNOWSLEY MANSION AND PAKK. 


203 


antique furniture, and varied specimens of natural 
history. Near this large lake is the “ Mizzy Dam ” 
or lake, to which allusion has just been made; and 
near the south front of the hall there is another fine 
lake, beyond the hall and pleasure grounds, called the 
“ China Temple Dam;” both these two last named 
lakes receiving their water from the Large Lake or 
White Man’s Dam. A large portion of the eastern 
side of the park, consisting of several hundreds of 
acres, forms the “ Deer Park,” in which there are 
numerous herds of the red, fallow, and other deer. 
The gardens and pleasure grounds, which are very 
extensive, are most artistically laid out, and beautifully 
decorated with works of art. 

The mansion at Knowsley has been on several 
occasions enlarged, and to a great extent re-built. On 
the occasion of Henry the Seventh coming to Knowsley, 
on a visit to his mother, the Countess of Thomas, 
first Earl of Derby, as already named, the Earl 
considerably enlarged the mansion for the King’s 
reception, erecting a spacious stone building, with two 
round towers at the south front, but which now have 
the square tower—inside of which is the banquetting 
hall—and the colonnade front on the east, and the 
steward’s offices on the west, the latter being connected 
with the mansion by a stone archway. The royal 
apartments were contained between the two round 
towers, and are still called “ the King’s Chambers.” 


204 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


In the year 1552, Edward, third Earl of Derby, 
exchanged his house in London, called Derby Place, 
for considerable lands adjoining Knowsley, and this 
exchange largely increased the Knowsley estates. In 
subsequent years the Earl made still further additions 
to the mansion. Little if any alterations or additions 
appear to have been made from that period to the 
time of James, the tenth Earl, who, it may be said, 
almost re-built the mansion, which, to a great extent 
had been suffered to fall into decay from the period 
of the Civil War, in the time of James, the seventh 
Earl. The principal part of the mansion, as it now 
stands, may, indeed, be said to have been built by the 
tenth Earl. A portion of the building, namely, the 
west or carriage approach front, is constructed of red 
brick, the quoins and designs to the long range of 
windows, being of stone. Although this includes 
some of the most ancient portions of the building, the 
arrangement imparts to it a comparatively modern 
aspect. This front, which is the most extensive 
portion of the edifice, is divided into three equal parts, 
of uniform height, the main entrance being in the 
centre, which is approached by a double flight of steps 
to the principal floor ; the whole being surmounted 
by a balustrade, with chaste and artistic scroll 
ornaments. The palatial and magnificent drawing 
rooms, as also the choice and splendid picture gallery, 
are also included in this portion of the edifice. The 


KNOWSLEY MANSION AND PARK. 


205 


east front of the mansion is uniform in architectural 
style and finish with the west elevation, being like the 
latter, built of red brick, with stone dressings to the 
windows. The private chapel attached to the hall is 
on this side of the building, the exterior being marked 
by a projecting wing. A few years ago, this chapel, 
which is tolerably spacious, was renovated and re¬ 
fitted throughout, and is now a very convenient, as 
well as an ornamental ecclesiastical interior. In the 
re-arrangement of the chapel, the Gothic style has 
been adopted, the whole of the timber work, including 
the seats, being Dantzic oak. The pulpit, which is 
placed at the east end of the chapel, in unison with 
long prevailing custom, is of tasteful and appropriate 
design, and richly and elaborately carved. The panels 
on the sides of the seats are also artistically carved, 
and on each side of the pidpit there are two 
massive oak chairs, beautifully carved, the pulpit, seats, 
and chairs, chastely harmonising with each other. 
The south facade of the edifice, which is, to a great 
extent, built of red sandstone, has more claim to 
architectural beauty and effect than those which have 
already been described. It is castellated in style, and 
contains three divisions, namely, the colonnade front, 
the large square tower forming the banquetting hall, 
and the erection known as the King’s apartments, 
including the two round towers, built as has already 
been stated, by Thomas, the first Earl of Derby, on the 


206 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


occasion of the visit to Knowsley of Henry the 
Seventh, in 1495. It has been observed that that 
portion of the hall erected specially to receive King 
Henry, was originally entirely distinct from the rest 
of the mansion, but was at a subsequent period 
connected with the rest of the pile. Even in those 
comparatively early days masonry and handicraft 
must have arrived at a considerable state towards 
perfection, for although this portion of the hall forms 
one of its most prominent parts, and consists of a 
drawing-room, dining-room, staircase, bed-chamber, 
dressing-room, page’s-room, a bed-chamber for the 
Lord-Chamberlain, and a dining-room for the members 
of the King’s household, it was commenced and 
completed within the period of a few months. Edward, 
the twelfth Earl of Derby, erected the red stone portion 
of this, the principal frontage of the mansion, in 
order to give a reception befitting royalty, to George 
the Fourth, who at that time was Prince Pegent. The 
erection of this part of the building occupied a con¬ 
siderable period, commencing in the early part of the 
year 1820, and the large square tower, which forms 
the banquetting hall, was not completed until 1821. 
That portion of the south front erected by Edward, 
the twelfth Earl, which is the most prominent, is the 
colonnade part of it. All the colonnades, which are of 
stone, and painted, are one above the other. Six pair 
ol columns, of the Doric order of architecture, support 


KNOWSLEY MANSION AND PARK. 


207 


tlie base colonnade, and the open spaces between 
these columns admit of the gravel walk in front being 
approached by a descent of two steps from the floor 
of the colonnade. The style of architecture of the 
upper colonnade columns differs from those support¬ 
ing the base, although they are the same in number. 
They are of the Ionic order, having between each two 
of the columns an artistic and ornamental railing. 
Opposite the pillars, within the two colonnades, are 
crescent-formed recesses, fitted with seats, and over the 
entrance to the upper colonnade, which is from the 
interior, is a massive gilt panel fixed in the wall in front, 
representing in basso-relievo, the “ Expulsion of Adam 
“ and Eve from Paradise.” Above the centre of the 
upper colonnade appear the arms of the family, and on 
the large stone tablet which supports it is the following 
inscription, which, although it has already been given in 
that portion of the volume (page 92) having reference 
to James, tenth Earl, it is necessary here to repeat:— 
“ James, Earl of Derby, Lord of Man and the Isles, 
“ Grandson of James, Earl of Derby, and of Charlotte, 
“ daughter of Claude, Duke de la Tremouile, whose 
“ husband, James, was beheaded at Bolton, XV. Oct., 
“ MDCLIL, for strenuously adhering to Charles the 
“ Second, who refused a Bill passed unanimously by 
“both Houses of Parliament, for restoring to the 
“family the estate, lost by his loyalty to him, 
“ MDCCXXXII.” Considerable doubt has been 


208 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


thrown on the historical accuracy of this inscription, 
and Baines, in his History of Lancashire, remarks 
upon it, “a Bill was passed in 16—17. Charles the 
“ Second, by which he (Charles, the eighth Earl) was 
“ restored to blood, from which it would appear that 
“ the author of the inscription (James, the tenth Earl) 
“ was not deeply versed in the history of his family.” 
The north front of the mansion is also of red stone, 
and like the rest of the building, is two stories high. 
The upper story contains what are known as the 
“ batchelors’ apartments,” and the lower story is 
appropriated to domestic purposes and servants’ 
apartments. 

The interior of the mansion possesses no less 
interesting and attractive features than its external 
architectural appearance. Within the last few years 
a grand staircase, thirty feet by twenty-seven fe'et, 
formed of most elaborately carved oak, has been 
erected opposite the west vestibule, which has mate¬ 
rially added to the already noble appearance of the in¬ 
terior as we pass through the entrance hall. After pro¬ 
ceeding along the entrance hall the visitor is ushered 
into two really magnificent drawing-rooms, most ex¬ 
quisitely and tastefully fitted m suite. The walls of 
these drawing-rooms are decorated and enriched by 
several fine historical and other paintings, including 
Bembrandt’s celebrated picture of “ Belshazzar’s 
Feast,” the admirable construction of the apartment 


KNOWSLEY MANSION AND PAEK. 


209 


in which it is exhibited admitting of this truly grand 
work of art being viewed to the greatest advantage. 
In addition to this fine painting there are also several 
other choice pictures by the old masters, in other 
parts of the two drawing rooms. Adjoining the 
drawings is that portion of the interior known as the 
stucco gallery, in which the connoisseur in art may 
spend hours of profit and pleasure. The walls of the 
gallery are covered with choice gems from the pencils of 
Rubens, Teniers, and other celebrated artists. At 
the end of the stucco gallery is the apartment 
known as the “ mahogany chamber,” being thus 
named in consecpience of the whole of the fittings, 
wainscotting, with the furniture to correspond, being 
of mahogany. Leaving the stucco gallery, and the 
mahogany chamber, the stucco room is entered. This 
apartment is so called from its being exclusively 
adorned with specimens of stucco-work, including 
beautiful medallion heads of the twelve Caesars, in 
basso relievo. It may here be stated that this was 
one of the apartments erected by James, the tenth 
Earl, when he, to a great extent, rebuilt Knowsley. 
It was, in his day, used as one of the ball-rooms for 
the visitors entertained there, but it is now classed 
amongst the drawing-rooms. Immediately adjacent 
to the stucco-room are “ the King’s chambers.” An 
interesting feature in these apartments is the fact 
that in one of the rooms is the bedstead used by the 


210 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


Prince Regent, when he visited Ivnowsley, in 1821, 
and the royal visit is commemorated by a large 
Prince of Wales’ feathers, in gold and crimson velvet, 
■being exhibited on the top of the footboard. One of 
the most interesting historical portraits connected 
with the Derby family is exhibited on the walls of 
this apartment. It is that of Charlotte de la Tre- 
monile, Countess of James, the seventh Earl, and the 
heroic defender of Latliom House, during the siege. 
The picture represents the Countess when she is 
receiving the last insolent message of Rigby, calling 
upon her to surrender, and when after reading the 
letter she tears it up, and exclaims “ Trumpet, tell 
“ that insolent rebel, Rigby, that if he presumes to 
“ send another message within this place, I will have 
“ the messenger hanged up at the gates.” Resides this 
valuable work of art, so highly prized by the family, 
by reason of the historical reminiscences which it 
awakens, there are also several other choice paintings 
in this apartment. The rooms immediately adjoining 
are all designated “the King’s apartments,” and 
consist of dressing-room, sitting, and other rooms, 
one of which, the walls being covered with miniature 
paintings, is called the “ miniature room.” It will 
thus be seen that the several apartments which have 
already been named are each and all invested with 
peculiar features of attractiveness, but perhaps 
the most magnificent apartment in the mansion is 


KNOWSLEY MANSION AND PARK. 


211 


tlie splendid banquetting room witliin the massive 
square tower, which, as has already been stated, was 
built by Edward, the twelfth Earl. This truly 
gorgeous interior is entered by a massive carved 
oak door, sixteen feet in height. The hall is large 
and spacious, and fifty feet in height. It is through¬ 
out fitted up in gothic style, including the ceiling, 
which is pierced in the centre, by means of which 
light is admitted by a lantern light, and suspended 
from the ceiling is a massive and elegant chandelier. 
The furniture throughout the hall is of elaborately 
carved oak, thus harmonizing with the gothic fittings 
of the noble apartment. Prominent amongst the 
furniture is an immense carved oak sideboard, which 
is said to have been in the family for several centu¬ 
ries, and is of great antiquity. The carving is exqui¬ 
sitely rich and artistic. In addition to this choice 
and rare article of banquetting requirements there 
are also two other sideboards at the north end of the 
hall. On the east and west sides of the hall, respec¬ 
tively, there are two large fire places, with massive 
white marble mantels. The drapery and general 
furniture is elegant whilst chaste, and the artistic 
decorations superb. In this grand apartment the 
visitor may look for hours with admiration, on the 
portraits of the Earls and Countesses of Derby of 
past ages, for here they are all exhibited from the 
earliest times. Two of the most striking and prominent 


212 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


are the portraits of Thomas, the first Earl of Derby, 
and his Countess, mother to Henry the Seventh, who 
was married to the Earl under the peculiar conditions 
already referred to. As stated by the author before, 
quoted (see page 21-2) the Countess’s portrait 
represents her “ with uplifted hands, in the attitude 
“ of prayer—her breviary laid open on the cushion 
“ before her. She is arrayed in the muffled habit of a 
“ religionist, and looks the incarnation of a saint 
“ already half exhaled.” The portraits of James the 
seventh Earl and his Countess, are also peculiarly 
attractive amongst the family collection. The mis¬ 
cellaneous paintings in this apartment are too 
numerous to particularize. They include many of 
the finest productions of art in existence, amongst 
them being “ the Passage of the Eed Sea,” the “ Entry 
“ into the Land of Promise,” “ Moses with Aaron and 
“ Hur on Mount Horeb, interceding with God on 
“ behalf of the Israelites, who are fighting with the 
“ Amalekites, at Rephidim,” and “ Joshua commanding 
“ the Sun.” There is also amongst the number, a 
portrait of Archdeacon Rutter, Chaplain to James the 
seventh Earl, whom he attended to the scaffold. This 
painting is said to have been found at Ivnowsley only 
a few years ago. In addition to the above there is a 
further portrait of Charlotte de la Tremouile in her 
weeds, after the execution of her husband. The 
picture gallery itself, which is ninety feet in length. 


knowsley mansion and park. 


213 


by eleven feet in widtli ; also contains a very numerous 
and valuable collection, by most of the old masters, 
amongst others, including Vandyke, Salvator Eosa, 
Eubens, Vanderwent, Guido, Claude Loraine, Correggio, 
Teniers, Poussin, &c., &c. “ Christ delivering the 

“ keys to St. Peter,” “ Seneca in the bath,” “ Head of 
“John the Baptist,” “Christ and the Woman of 
“ Samaria,” and “ the Expulsion from Eden,” are 
included in the collection. The great portion of the 
paintings by. the old masters, which form such a 
prominent feature in this almost unequalled collection, 
were purchased and brought to Knowsley, by James 
the tenth Earl. There are two very ancient pieces of 
furniture at the hall. They consist of two carved 
oak cupboards, one of which is dated 1501, and has 
several scriptural pieces carved on the panels. The 
date shows that it has probably been in possession of 
the family even so early as the time of the first Earl, 
who died in 1504. There is also another carved oak 
side board, the carving having been executed by the 
Countess of Charles, the eighth Earl, inasmuch as it 
bears her name, “ Helena, Countess of Derby.” The 
library is rich in literary lore, and well worth the 
close inspection of the visitor to this princely mansion. 
In addition to the valuable volumes which it contains, 
there is also a collection of family portraits, in cases, 
with a short biographical notice in each. The library 
.also contains the chair in which Janies, the seventh 


214 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


Earl sat wlien he was beheaded at Bolton. This 
chair, although to all appearance ebony, being 
apparently black, is nevertheless composed of oak. It 
has a low carved back, with spiral spindles. A few 
years ago it was presented to the present Earl of 
Derby, by James Hardcastle, Esq., of Bolton, that 
family having had in it their possession for several 
generations. On a brass plate on the chair is the 
following inscription :—“ This chair of the great Earl 
“ of Derby, at his martyrdom, was presented by James 
“ Hardcastle, of Bolton-le-Moors, to the Right Hon. 
“ Edward Geoffrey, Earl of Derby.” The present 
stables at Knowsley, which are said to be the most 
extensive and complete of any in the country, were 
built by the late Earl of Derby, at an estimated cost 
of more than £30,000. 

Perhaps more royal visits have been made to 
Knowsley within the last few centuries, than to the 
seat of any nobleman in England, and, as will be seen 
from the foregoing sketch, there is no aristocratic 
family in the country having greater facilities for 
entertaining royal guests than are possessed by the 
Earls of Derby. The “ King’s apartments,” as they 
are not inaptly termed, are specially set apart for 
the reception of families connected with the monarchy 
not only of our own, but also foreign countries, and 
in years gone by they have frequently been applied 
to this purpose, one of the more recent visits being 


KNOWSLEY MANSION AND PARK. 215 

that of the Prince and Princess of Wales, with their 
suite, in the autumn of 1865. On this occasion the 
Prince and Princess extended their stay to four days, 
one of which, October 31st, was set apart for a public 
visit to Liverpool. The Prince and Princess, accom¬ 
panied by the Earl and Countess of Derby, and a 
numerous party from Knowsley, in several carriages, 
arrived in Liverpool about eleven o’clock in the fore¬ 
noon, and were most enthusiastically received. The 
visit was made the occasion for a general holiday, 
and there was every outward demonstration of re¬ 
joicing. All business v 7 as suspended for the day, 
which w^as kept as a complete holiday, in honour 
of the royal visit. The several thoroughfares of the 
town were profusely decorated with flags, banners, 
and triumphal arches. The shipping in the docks 
and river was similarly adorned, the forest of masts 
being covered with bunting, and the day being beau- 
tifully fine, with uninterrupted sunshine throughout, 
the scene presented was exceedingly animating. The 
royal party, on arriving in Liverpool, were driven 
down to the Prince’s pierhead, when they embarked 
on board a steamer, and made an excursion on the 
river, hundreds of small river steamers, gaily de¬ 
corated, and crowded with spectators, accompanying 
them. After disembarking, the Prince and Princess 
visited the Town Hall, St. Georges Hall, and other 
public buildings, after which they returned to 


216 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


Knowsley. In the year 1867, the Queen of the 
Netherlands paid a visit to Knowsley, remaining 
there as the guest of the noble Earl and Countess for 
a few days. The latest visit was that of the Prince 
and Princess Christian, Prince Arthur, and the 
Princess of Schleswig Holstein, in January, 1868. 
They arrived at Knowsley on Monday, the 6th of 
of January, and extended their visit to Saturday, the 
11th, when they returned to London. On Wednes¬ 
day, January 8tli, Prince Christian and Prince Arthur 
went to Liverpool, and, accompanied by the Mayor, 
made an excursion on the river. On disembarking 
they drove to the Town Hall to luncheon, and after¬ 
wards visited the Free Library, where they were 
joined by the Princess Christian and the Princess of 
Schleswig Holstein. Prom the Free Library, the 
royal party proceeded to St. George’s Hall, which 
was crowded with visitors. Here they were enter¬ 
tained to a performance on the great organ, the music 
having been selected by the Countess of Derby. On 
Thursday evening, January 9tli, the royal party were en¬ 
tertained at a magnificent ball, by Edward Whitley, Escp, 
the Mayor. This entertainment was the most brilliant 
of its kind ever witnessed in Liverpool. Not only were 
the Town Hall rooms gorgeously decorated for the 
occasion, but the grand ball-room in that building 
was connected, by a temporary corridor, with the 
large exchange news-room, an apartment which is 


KNOWSLEY MANSION AND PARK. 


217 


admitted to be one of the most magnificent in the 
world, whether as regards its architectural arrange¬ 
ments, or gorgeousness of decoration. The Princes 
and Princesses were accompanied to the ball by the 
Countess of Derby and a large party from Knowsley, 
and the entire number of guests present on the 
occasion was upwards of three thousand. 







CHAPTER XI. 


AEMS OF THE FAMILY. 

The arms and motto of the Stanley family are 
not without their interest, more especially as regards 
the crest of the eagle and child. The motto is Sans 
Changer —“ Without changing.” The arms contain 
three bucks’ heads, cabossed, supported by a griffin' 
and a buck; and the crest is an eagle preying on an 
infant in its cradle. It is popularly believed that 
this crest was first adopted by Sir Thomas Latliom, 
whose daughter, Isabel, was married to Sir John 
Stanley, the latter continuing the crest, which is 
maintained by the Stanley family to the present day. 
Other authorities state that the crest was not actually 
adopted until after the union of the Latliom and 
Stanley families by the marriage just named ; but it 
is generally affirmed that its origin is due to the fact 
of a child having been found in an eagle’s nest upon 
the estate, during the lifetime of Sir Thomas Latliom, 
who adopted and educated the child. 


ARMS OF THE FAMILY. 


219 


There are several fabulous traditions of the “ Eagle 
and Child/’ gravely related, with all the circumstan¬ 
tiality of detail. It is recorded that Sir Thomas 
Lathom, who lived in the reign of Edward the Third, 
had no male issue; his only child, being Isabel, mar¬ 
ried to Sir John Stanley. Desirous, from early life, 
for a male heir to inherit his house and fortune, he 
had an intrigue with a young woman named Oskatel, 
the fruit of which was a son. The child was for some 
time altogether concealed from the Lathom family. 
Sir Thomas, although very anxious at once to adopt 
it, yet nevertheless being careful that its paternity 
should be kept secret. After a time, the following 
expedient was resorted to, for the purpose of the 
child being received into the family. Sir Thomas 
having entrusted the secret to an old and trust¬ 
worthy servant on the estate, and taken counsel 
with him as to the best means by which the infant 
could be brought under the direct and immediate 
protection of the Lathom family, the latter suggested 
that as an eagle frequently formed her nest in a large 
thick wood in the most desolate part of the park, the 
child should be taken and laid there at the foot of the 
tree, as if brought there by the eagle, and that it 
should afterwards be accidentally discovered. Sir 
Thomas readily fell in with this proposition, and at 
once gave directions to the mother of the child to have 
the infant well fed and richly dressed early the next 


220 


THE STANLEYS OF KXOWSLEY. 


morning. At the same time, the domestic in Sir 
Thomas’s confidence had instructions from the latter 
to call for the infant, and carry it to the foot of the 
tree which the eagle usually frequented, where it was 
to he laid and covered up, secured from all observa¬ 
tion ; and the servant was to guard the child from all 
outward injury, either from beast or bird of prey; 
and this was performed with all privacy. 

Sir Thomas Lathom, now knowing that the child 
was laid at the foot of the tree, did not allow it to 
remain there long, but paid it an early visit, and im¬ 
mediately returned to the hall, and acquainted his 
lady and the family with the strange event. His 
lady and the household, accompanied by Sir Thomas, 
hastened to view such a miraculous discovery, and 
unanimously agreed that the infant’s preservation in 
so dismal and dangerous a situation could be no less 
than a miracle ; and, upon finding it to be a male 
child, the good lady was enamoured with him, and 
concluded it to be the will of heaven that they 
should adopt him for their son and heir, which was 
eagerly agreed to by Sir Thomas. 

The infant was thus carried home to the hall, and 
nursed and brought up, under the personal superin¬ 
tendence of the lady, with the same care and tender¬ 
ness as if she had been his natural mother. He was 
baptised Oskatel de Lathom, but no one knew the 
reasons for his being called by that name, except his 


ARMS OF THE FAMILY. 


221 


mother, Mary Oskatel, and Sir Thomas. The child 
was adopted by Sir Thomas and his lady, and educa¬ 
ted as their heir; and was knighted by the King, at 
Winchester, on the occasion of Sir John Stanley, his 
presumed foster brother-in-law, overcoming the 
French champion in single combat. Sir Thomas 
Lathom, from that time, assumed for his crest an 
eagle upon wing, turning her head hack, and looking 
in a sprightly manner as for something she had lost, 
or was taken from her. Sir Thomas intended the 
estates to descend to Sir Oskatel; but, in his old age, 
and sometime before his death, his conscience smote 
him, and, stating that his daughter, Isabel, Lady 
Stanley, was his only legitimate offspring, and entitled 
to his large possessions, he settled them upon that 
lady and her heirs, for ever, publicly avowing that 
Sir Oskatel was only his natural son. Sir Thomas 
did not, however, leave poor Sir Oskatel, who had 
now been deposed from his title and estates, without 
being well provided for. He settled upon Sir Oskatel 
and his heirs, for ever, the manors of Irlam and 
Urmston, near Manchester, together with several 
tracts of land in Lancashire and Cheshire, giving him 
also the signet of his arms, with the crest assumed 
by him for his sake. Sir Oskatel settled in the 
County of Chester, and became the founder of the 
family of Lathom, of Astbury. 

There is a further tradition as to the origin of the 


222 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


crest of tlie “ Eagle and Child” in the Stanley family. 
It is to the effect that Sir Thomas Lathom and his 
Lady were one day taking their usual walk in the 
park, and drawing near to that desert and wild situa¬ 
tion where it was commonly reported an eagle built 
her nest, they heard, on their approach, the cries of a 
young child, which they ordered the servants attend¬ 
ing to look for; who on search reported that it was in 
the eagle’s nest, which they directed to be taken 
down. To their great surprise and wonder, it was 
found on examination to contain a male infant dressed 
in rich swaddling clothes, and they, having no male 
issue, looked upon this child as a present sent from 
heaven, and that it could be no less than the will of 
God that they should immediately take him under 
their care and protection, which they accordingly did, 
and had him carefully nursed and baptised by the 
name of Lathom. He became possessed of a large 
estate, and at his death left an oidy daughter named 
Isabel, whom Sir John Stanley married, who in 
memory of this event took the “ Eagle and Child” for 
his crest, which has since been used by his noble 
successors, the Earls of Derby. 

Seacome altogether denies the correctness of this 
story, as follows:—“Thus far goes the old tradition, 
“ which on examination and just information will 
“ appear to be mere fable and fiction, and highly 
“ improbable. Knowing the fury and violence with 


ARMS OF THE FAMILY. 


223 


“ which an eagle strikes its prey, killing all it stoops 
“ to at one stroke, or before it leaves it, it must be 
“ allowed that it is morally impossible that a bird of 
“ prey, of the strength and rapacious nature which an 
a eagle is known to possess should carry a live child to 
“ an airy height unhurt, which she never attends but 
“ when hatching or rearing her young, and then tears 
“ all to pieces she intends for herself or them as 
“ food, which they, while young, are unable to do 
“ for themselves.” 

Seacome is also doubtful whether the crest now 
used by the Stanleys is the same as that adopted by 
Sir Thomas Lathom, for he observes :—“ Sir Oskatel 
“ being thus degraded and supplanted in the hopes 
“ and prospects of an immense fortune, was slighted 
“ and despised by his unthought-of rivals, who either 
“ to distinguish themselves, or in contempt and deri- 
“ sion of their spurious brother, took upon themselves 
“ the ‘Eagle and Child’ for their crest, in token of their 
“ conquest over him. This to me plainly manifests the 
“ variation of the two crests, and the reason of it. The 
“ eagle as represented in the Stanley’s crest has actually 
“ made a prey of the child, whereas Sir Thomas La thorn’s 
“ crest implies a miraculous preservation of it, as the 
“ child is supposed to be brought there by that bird of 
“ prey. Besides, I cannot find, with any show of pro- 
“ bability, that any of the family of Stanley ever 
“ assumed the ‘ Eagle and Child’ for their crest before 


224 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ the union of the family of Lathom and Stanley, so 
“ that consequently there must be some special and 
“ peculiar view or occasion for the assumption of that 
“crest by the Stanleys, rather than that taken by 
“ their common ancestor, Sir Thomas Lathom.” 



CHAPTER XII. 


THE EARL OF DERBY’S RETIREMENT. 

The following narrative of facts will explain itself, 
and serve to show why an additional chapter has 
been rendered necessary. Almost at the very mo¬ 
ment when the foregoing pages were about to issue 
from the press, the Earl of Derby felt himself com¬ 
pelled, owing to continued indisposition, to resign 
the dignified and responsible office of Prime Minister. 
The announcement was received throughout the 
country, as well as by every political party in Par¬ 
liament, with sentiments of the most profound regret. 
It was on the evening of Tuesday, February 25th, 
1868, that the noble Earl’s retirement was commu¬ 
nicated to both Houses of Parliament. In the 
House of Lords it was made by the Earl of Malmes¬ 
bury, in the following graceful and appropriate 
terms:— 

“ It is my duty,” he said, “ to inform your lord- 
" ships that the Earl of Derby has, from failing health, 


226 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ felt himself obliged to tender his resignation to her 
“ Majesty, and that her Majesty has been graciously 
“ pleased to send for the Eight Hon. the Chancellor 
“ of the Exchequer, and to give him power to form a 
“ Government, if possible. It must be a subject of 
“ great pain to all, on whichever side of the House 
“ you sit, when you see an eminent statesman obliged 
“ to recede from public life, and the management of 
“ public affairs, not from any of those chances and 
“ changes of political life to which we are all accus- 
“ tomed, and cheerfully resign ourselves, but from 
“ failing health, which takes him as it were before 
“his time from amongst us, and deprives us of his 
“ advice and ability. If this is painful to noble lords 
“ opposite, as I know it must be, how much more 
“ must it be to those friends who have served under 
“ him, as I have done, for so many years, and have 
“ sat by him through so many dreary years of Oppo- 
“ sition. There is one consolation, however, for us, 
“ under the circumstances. Although we may regret 
“ that we should be deprived of his presence from 
“ the cause which I have described, at the same time 
“ we have hope that the rest which he proposes to 
“give himself, will restore him to us in greater 
. “ strength, so that, at all events, we shall have again 
“ the advantage of his ability and eloquence.” 

The tribute paid to the retiring Premier, by Earl 
Russell, who rose immediately on the Earl of 


THE EARL OF DERBY’S RETIREMENT. 227 

Malmesbury resuming his seat, testified to the res¬ 
pect and esteem in which the late head of the Govern¬ 
ment was held by those politically opposed to him, 
as well as by those of his own party. 

“ I may perhaps be permitted,” said Earl Russell, 
“ to express my sympathy with the noble Earl and 
“ the rest of his colleagues, at the loss which they 
“ have sustained in no longer having the Earl of 
“ Derby at the head of her Majesty’s Government. 
“ Often as we have differed, and still differ, on many 
“ public cpiestions, I could not fail to regard him 
“ with sentiments of respect and esteem, which his 
“ great qualities were so well calculated to earn. 
“ The confidence which has been bestowed upon him 
“ by a great political party of this country is a proof 
“of the trust which he was so well calculated to 
“ inspire. With regard to the eloquence with which 
“he stated his opinions, the records of Parliament 
“ will bear immortal testimony. With respect to 
“ all other matters which are public questions, history 
“ must deal; but I trust, with the noble lord, that we 
“shall again see the Earl of Derby in the House, 
“ and, although the state of his health, which is 
“ much to be lamented, may prevent him from assum- 
“ ing an official position, that we shall again hear 
“ the clear and eloquent language (of which he is so 
“ great a master) in which he is wont to express the 
“ opinions which flowed from his great mind, so well 


228 THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 

“ calculated to inspire the respect and esteem of the 
“ House.” 

In the House of Commons the delicate duty fell 
to the lot of the son of the late Premier himself. 
Lord Stanley conveyed the intelligence to the House 
in the following brief and characteristically modest 
language:— 

“ Sir, I have to announce to the House, and I 
“ do it with feelings of deep regret, that Lord Derby, 
“ in consequence of the state of his health, which, 
“ although improving, is still such as to render abso- 
“ lute repose from business necessary for a consider- 
“ able time to come, has felt it his duty to tender to 
“her Majesty his resignation of the office which lie 
“holds, and her Majesty has been pleased to accept 
“ the resignation so tendered.” Lord Stanley having 
stated that Mr. Disraeli was engaged in the formation 
of a ministry, then moved the adjournment of the 
House, on which, Mr. Gladstone, the leader of the 
Opposition, rose and paid the following appropriate 
tribute to the noble Earl who had thus felt himself 
compelled to retire from his position as the head of 
the Government: “So far as regards the motion for 
“adjournment,” said Mr. Gladstone, “under present 
“ circumstances, I should not have thought that it 
“ called for a single word from myself, so obviously 
“is it dictated by the propriety of the case. But 
“ with reference to the special cause which the 


THE EARL OF DERBY’S RETIREMENT. 229 

“ noble lord lias, by a singular destiny, been called 
“ upon to be the person to announce to this House, 
“ I cannot help expressing, for myself, a regret which 
“ I am sure will be the universal sentiment, that a 
“ career so long, so active, and in so many respects 
“ so distinguished and remarkable as that of his 
“ father, should have been brought to a close by the 
“ failure of his bodily health and strength.” 

The Earl of Derby’s retirement from public life, 
and the universal sympathy felt for his lordship by 
an admiring nation, invests with more than ordinary 
interest anything bearing either directly or indirectly 
on the event, and his lordship’s remarks at a Conser¬ 
vative banquet at Manchester, on the 17th of October, 
1867, at which the Earl and his colleagues were 
entertained in celebration of the passing of the Reform 
Bill, may here be most appropriately introduced. 
Singularly enough, his lordship, in the course of one 
of those eloquent speeches which he has often 
delivered, pointedly alluded to a rumour then in 
circulation, that he contemplated retiring from public 
life. In reference to the rumour in question, his 
lordship said:—■“ I have not the slightest idea of 
“ doing so. At a critical period like the present, I 
“ should feel that it would be an act of base 
a dereliction of duty to my Sovereign, and those who 
“ honour me by giving me their support, if I were to 
“ shrink from the responsibility attaching to my 


230 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ present position. At my time of life, and with the 
“ increasing frequency of those attacks which from 
“ time to time oblige me to retire from public service, 
“ it is impossible for me to look forward to any 
“ lengthened service, but I have no present intention 
“ of relinquishing the office which I hold by the 
“ favour of my Sovereign, and the support of the 
“ great Conservative party. Whenever I do retire 
“ from that office, I trust that I shall have the satis- 
“ faction of doing so with the conviction that I have 
“ done my duty honestly and faithfully to the country 
“ at large; that I have not allowed political dif- 
“ ferences to interfere with personal friendship ; and 
“ above all, that in no respect have I forfeited the 
“ good opinion and esteem of that great and influential 
“ party—never more great and influential than at the 
“ present moment—which has honoured me with its 
“ confidence for the last few years/’ 

His references to public questions on the same 
occasion, more particularly the Eeform Act, and his 
advent for the third time to power, are especially 
deserving of record:—“Undertaking,” he said “the 
“ duties and responsibilities of office, I felt I must 
“ look to the position in which I stood. That Eeform, 
“ even if I had wished it, could have been postponed 
“ or defeated, was out of the question. To have 
“ brought forward a measure short of that brought 
“ forward by the late Government would equally 


THE EARL OF DERBY’S RETIREMENT. 


231 


“have subjected me to ignominious discomfiture ; and 
“ believing that in this case boldness was safety, I felt 
“ that the only course to be pursued, if the concurrence 
“ of the great Conservative party could be obtained, 
“ was to make so large and liberal a concession of the 
“ elective franchise as that, resting upon a sound and 
“ definite principle, it should be a permanent obstacle 
“ to any attempt to disturb that principle. It is a 
“ matter of the merest gratitude on my part to say 
“ that to the Conservative party I am deeply indebted 
“ for the manner in which they placed their entire 
“ confidence in myself and those associated with me, 
“ and for their concurrence in the large and extensive 
“ measure which we felt it our duty to propose. Nay, 
“ more, when under the apprehension of losing three 
“ valued colleagues, we were induced to depart from 
“ our original intention, and to propose a bill less 
“ extensive in its character, it was not less by the 
“ objections of the Conservative than of the Liberal 
“ party that we were led to abandon the minor 
“ proposition, and recur to the larger and in- 
“ finitely more satisfactory measure which I am 
“ happy to say, has become the law of the land. 
“ And now, what is to be the result of this great 
“ measure ? It is a serious question, and one well 
“ deserving of the grave attention of all those who 
“ are interested in the well-being of the country. I 
“am told that I used an imprudent expression— 


232 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ perhaps I did—in saying that this measure was to a 
“ certain extent a leap in the dark. It was; it is ; 
“ and it would be impossible to extend the electoral 
“ franchise to very large bodies of our fellow country- 
“ men with absolute certainty as to the manner in 
“ which they would use that franchise, not having the 
“ knowledge, which it is impossible to obtain, of the 
“ number entitled to exercise it. But, as I said before, 
“ I think that in this case boldness was safety, and I 
“ will add that the experience I acquired during the 
“ cotton famine of the very eminent and excellent 
“ qualities of the working men, especially in this dis- 
“ trict, led me to form such an opinion of their intelli¬ 
gence and reasonableness, and sound sense, and 
“ absence from personal and social prejudices, to 
“ believe that they could, without danger, be entrusted 
“ with a share in the administration of the country. 
“ I believe that what are called the working classes, 
“ which, I think, might be more properly described as 
“ the wage-paid classes of this country—those who 
“ depend upon weekly or monthly wages—are sound 
“ at heart and to the core. I have the greatest 
“ possible confidence in their loyalty to the throne and 
“ the institutions of the country. I believe that if—I 
“ will not say the person of the Sovereign—but the 
“ throne were threatened, they would rise as one man 
“ to protect it. I believe they are deeply attached to 
“ the institutions of the country. I believe that 


THE EARL OF DERBY’S RETIREMENT. 233 

“ though many of them are not members of her com- 
“ munion, they respect and do not desire to subvert 
“ the Established Church of this country—a church, 
“ which T may be permitted to say, is of all establish- 
“ ments known upon the face of the earth most tolerant 
“ and most liberal, which gives the greatest latitude to 
“ its own members—a latitude, which, I am afraid, has 
“ of late times been rather abused—a church which is 
“ not only tolerant, but which cordially welcomes the 
“ assistance of its dissenting brethren in their common 
“ struggles against vice, and ignorance, and infidelity, 
“ I believe that the working classes have a deep res- 
“ pect for the old-established families of this country, 
“ and I do not believe that they desire to alter the 
“ constitution of the House of Lords, representing as 
“ it does hereditary rights and privileges, but recruited 
“ as it is year by year, from the ranks of the commu- 
“ nity. I believe further that the working classes enter- 
“ tain a deep respect for the legislative wisdom of the 
“ House of Commons, and that respect will be only 
“ deepened by their accession to privileges from which 
“ they have been hitherto debarred. I claim that du- 
u ring the whole course of my political and priv ate life 
<e I have been and continue to be, the friend and well- 
“ wisher of the working classes, and I think I know 
« those classes well enough, and more especially in 
u this immediate neighbourhood to know that tlieie 
“is nothing they wish so much as plain speak- 


234 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ ing and straightforward dealing. I will, therefore, 

“ in the presence of many of them—and I hope my 
“ words may reach many who are not present—venture 
“ to warn them against one danger which I foresee as a 
“ possible consequence of the great measure of Beform 
“ which has just been passed. Apprehensions are en- 
“ tertained that the working men will not be satisfied 
“ with exercising that political influence to which they 
“ will be entitled, but that they will be disposed to 
“ lend themselves as dupes to designing persons who 
“ may endeavour to cajole them with ideas of returning 
“representatives to Parliament who will make loud 
“ professions of being the only friends of the working 
“ classes, and of going into Parliament to promote 
“legislative measures intended to conduce to their 
“ welfare. Now, I believe there never was a Parlia- 
‘ ment more disposed than the present to look to the 
“ interests of the working classes, and to consult their 
“ benefit. I can only hope that the next Parliament 
“ may be equally desirous to effect that object, and 
“ equally acquainted with the best mode of carrying 
“ it into effect. But, as an earnest and sincere friend, 
“ speaking with the deepest conviction, I warn the 
“ working classes not to be led away by the flattering 
“ delusions of men who will tell them they can induce 
“ Parliament to pass measures of exceptional legisla- 
“ tion for their special and immediate benefit. They 
“ could not, I hope, induce any Parliament to pass such 


THE EARL OF DERBY’S RETIREMENT. 235 

“ measures, and if they were passed, the working men 
“ would find it the greatest injury that could he done 
“ to them.” 

It has already been stated that the noble Earl’s 
retirement called forth the deepest expressions of 
regret from all classes and parties. The organs of 
public opinion, both in the metropolis and in the 
provinces were loud in his praises, and the following 
tribute from the leading metropolitan diurnal, is only 
one amongst many others breathing a kindred spirit 
and feeling:—“ So brilliant a political leader will not 
“ pass into the retirement which we trust lie will 
“ long enjoy, without many attempts to estimate his 
“ services, and to define the influence which he 
“exercised upon his most eminent contemporaries. 
“ The chief feature in his life is, that his power and 
“ popularity have been due more to his character and 
“ genius than to any positive achievements in states- 
“ manship. He has passed from the political stage 
“ without fulfilling any one of the grand ideas that 
“fed the young fancies of the last generation. He 
“ has not been the heaven-sent statesman, to breast 
“with his single persistency the raging element of 
“ revolution and conquest; he has not been the 
“ heaven-sent reformer, to point out with steady hand 
“ the true path of progress ; lie has not been mighty 
“ to originate and create; he has only assisted, not 
“ once, but many times, to bring his friends into the- 


236 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“port they had most avoided and deprecated. Yet 
“it would not be easy to name any one who has 
“ fulfilled with more distinction and success so many 
“ of the various parts expected in the composition of 
“ a modern British statesman, or gentleman of birth 
“ and position. Had he been only a scholar, or only 
“ an English landowner, or only an Irish proprietor, 
“ or only an administrator, or only a debater, or only 
“ a maker of laws, or only the leader of a party, or 
“ nothing more than the chief of his family, he would 
■“ be a man of no common distinction in each of those 
“characters. There is no man who could preside 
“ over a university with such authority and com¬ 
petency; nay, when learned doctors were humbly 
“ craving leave to say what they had to say in their 
“mother tongue, Lord Derby could do this with 
“perfect facility in good classical Latin. Fresh from 
“the University, he proved a match for the great 
“ Irish agitator. He went great lengths in Beform, 
“ and the ensuing train of Liberal measures, insomuch 
“ as to leave his mark on that boisterous passage. 
“ But he had a conscience always in reserve; and 
“ although he suffered for a time, it stood him in 
“ good stead continually. One side could not dispute 
“ his good deeds, the other could not doubt his 
“ motives and intentions. Some important measures 
“ bear his name. In many a great crisis he has been 
“ a prominent personage, several times the expected 


THE EARL OF DERBY’S RETIREMENT. 23 T 

“ deliverer. He lias been a valuable friend to both of 
“ the Irish churches, and to both of the great parties in 
“ the political world. He now passes from political 
“life with thanks, regrets, and expectations on all 
“ sides.” 

Since his speech at Manchester, in October last, 
his lorship has not appeared in his public or political 
character, excepting in connexion with the following 
letter on his retirement, addressed to the Earl of 
Dartmouth, Chairman of the National Union of 
Conservative and Constitutional Associations:— 

“St. James’s-square, March 27, 1868. 

“ My Lord,—I have to acknowledge, with the 
“ liveliest gratitude, the address which your lordship 
“ has done me the honour of transmitting to me on 
“behalf of the National Union, and the numerous 
“ Constitutional Associations whose names are annexed, 
“kindly expressing their regret at my retirement 
“from office, and their hope that I should still be 
“ enabled to take a part in the political business of 
“the country. 

“ It was not without a pang, and only under a con- 
“ viction of the absolute necessity of the step, that 
“ I found myself compelled to ask permission to with- 
“ draw from the service of a Sovereign to whose 
“ gracious favours I am so deeply indebted; and to 
“ sever my official connexion with a party which for so- 


238 


THE STANLEYS OF KNOWSLEY. 


“ many years lias honoured me with its confidence, 
“ and for many members of which I entertain a per- 
“ sonal as well as a political regard. It was, however, 
“ very satisfactory to me to be empowered to transfer 
“ the office which I had the honour of holding, to one 
“ whose co-operation and friendship I had enjoyed for 
“ more than twenty years, and who, I am persuaded, 
“ will prove himself not unmindful of those great 
“ constitutional principles which it lias been the study 
“ of my life to uphold, and to which, so far as my 
“ health will permit, I shall not cease to give my 
“ earnest though unofficial support.—I have the lion- 
“ our to be, my Lord, your obliged and faithful 
u servant,” “ DERBY.” 


AVe cannot more appropriately close our narrative 
than by recording the testimony of an able and 
influential publication, politically opposed to the dis¬ 
tinguished subject of our notice. Speaking of the 
Earl of Derby’s retirement, the writer says :—“ In all 
“ the private relations of life, and as a public man 
“ apart from politics, Lord Derby has justly earned 
“ the confidence of men of all political opinions. 
“ His conduct during the cotton famine was such as 
*■ to entitle him to the gratitude of his fellow-co untry- 
“ men and to the respect of the world. Nor was this 
“ a solitary or even a rare instance of his benevolence. 


THE EARL OF DERBY’S RETIREMENT. 239 

He has always been true to his order, by connecting 
“ it with the well-being of all other classes of society. 
“ Of his intellectual qualities it is unnecessary to 
speak, as he has long stood in the first rank of 
“ English orators. As a scholar he is surpassed by 
“ few Englishmen, perhaps by none who have not 
“ made scholarship the whole object of their lives. 
“ We are quite sure that the whole of his countrymen 
“ will join in sincerely hoping that his life may be 
“ spared for many years, and that in the company of 
“his family and his books, and his performance of 
“ whatever public duties his strength may enable 
“ him to discharge, he will spend the last years of his 
4 ‘ life in tranquillity and in happiness.” 

Since the preceding was penned, the noble 
subject of this panegyric has passed away to “ that 
bourne from whence no traveller returns.” His 
Lordship died at Knowsley early on the morning of 
the 23rd of October, 1869, and his remains were con¬ 
signed to the family vault a few days afterwards. 
The funeral was of the simplest and most private 
character, in accordance with the expressed wish of 
the deceased. 

Edward George Geoffrey, Fourteenth Earl, was 
succeeded by his son, Edward Henry (Lord 
Stanley), as fifteenth Earl of Derby. Since the death 
of his father, his Lordship has not taken any very 


240 EDWARD HENRY, FIFTEENTH EARL OF DERBY. 

active part in political matters, and has confined his 
appearances in public to meetings of a local character, 
more particularly affecting the County Palatine and 
its affairs. His Lordship was married 5th July 1870, 
to the Lady Mary Catherine, Dowager Marchioness of 
Salisbury, and daughter of George John, 5th Earl De la 
Warr. 



EDWARD HOWELL, PRINTER, CHURCH STREET, LIVERPOOL. 




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